{"id":42159,"date":"2017-10-15T02:19:57","date_gmt":"2017-10-15T09:19:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/?p=42159"},"modified":"2017-10-15T02:20:40","modified_gmt":"2017-10-15T09:20:40","slug":"musical-soiree-in-sacramento","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconeer.com\/current\/musical-soiree-in-sacramento\/","title":{"rendered":"Musical Soiree in Sacramento"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vocalist Shakila Ahmed with Siar Haseq on Tabla. (All photos: Ras H. Siddiqui)<\/em><\/p>\n

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A music event last month in Mid Town Sacramento drew close to a hundred Desi origin enthusiasts of\u00a0Geets,<\/em>\u00a0Ghazals, Bhajans, Sangeet<\/em>\u00a0and more, which is not too unusual while taking into account the two singers which were slated to perform, writes Ras H. Siddiqui.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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It was like a little \u201cInTanDesh\u201d (India-Pakistan-Bangladesh) here, if I may take a page out of Santa Clara University history where one such a named effort was once active. But when you have Bangladeshi origin Shakila Ahmed (Vocals) from right here in the Sacramento area, and Suhail Rais Khan(Sitar & Vocals) visiting from Mumbai, plus assisting them, Siar Haseq (Tabla) & Amir Shankar (Harmonium), the evening was bound to generate high expectations. And it did meet those expectations albeit in an abbreviated form because one is used to staying up till the following AM for such shows and not the 10:30 PM when this one ended.<\/p>\n

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Vocalist Suhail Rais Khan with Amir Shankar on Guitar.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shakila was born in Dhaka and has been trained in Indian classical music starting at age 8. She became a\u00a0shagird\u00a0<\/em>or student of Ustad Mohammad Dilshad Khan in Mumbai in the mid 90\u2019s and since then there has been a great deal of experimentation too. She is comfortable singing pop, fusion, folk and excels in the rendition of Bengali\u00a0Nazrul Geeti<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Rabindra Sangeet<\/em>\u00a0plus Sufi\u00a0Kalams<\/em>. But if one was to pinpoint her\u00a0forte<\/em>\u00a0(just my opinion) here that would be in the realm of\u00a0Ghazal<\/em>\u00a0singing. She already has some albums to her credit and her music is truly representative of the entire Indian subcontinent. Her notable works include a Ghazal album titled\u00a0Nayee Baat<\/em>, comprising of 8 Ghazals composed by the famous Indian singer, Hariharan. I have had her album\u00a0Kisise Na Kehna<\/em>\u00a0for quite some time now and still enjoy listening to it.\u00a0Ghazal bahana karoon<\/em>, is the title of Shakila\u2019s latest collection which many of us have not heard before, but songs from which were included in this event. Shakila is also a freelance writer and paints for pleasure but confesses, music is her first love.<\/p>\n

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Fans at the Sacramento Musical Evening.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Suhail Rais Khan is a performer who has music in his blood. He is the eldest son of legendary Sitarist Ustad Rais Khan – Member\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Mewati Gharana<\/em>, and grandson of\u00a0Ustad Mohammed Khan Saab, from a family famous for its\u00a0Khayal\u00a0<\/em>genre of music. Suhail started his musical training at age 12 as a musical apprentice of his father. He also sought the musical patronage of Ustad Niaz Ahmed Khan Saab of the\u00a0Kirana Gharana<\/em>\u00a0and Ustad Sultan Khan Saab, an exponent from\u00a0Sikkar Gharana<\/em>. Suhail entertained us at this event us with his tribute to the work of the late Ghazal greats Mehdi Hassan and Jagjit Singh. One wonders if he will choose Sitar playing over vocals or the other way around.<\/p>\n

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Shakila Ahmed with a group of her fans.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Returning to Shakila Ahmed it can be written that one often takes local talent for granted. Just like Shaiq Chishty Sahib from the Stockton area whose passion for teaching music to the next generation is sometimes overlooked (he was here at this event and helped in its execution), Shakila is possibly the best Ghazal singer that we have in the region. When she sings the words of poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz, it can be mesmerizing. And she did not disappoint us Faiz enthusiasts here this evening by a very fine presentation of \u201cAaey Kuch Abr Kuch Sharab Aaey\u2026\u201d Just that song alone was worth the trip!<\/p>\n

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Shakila Ahmed and Suhail Rais Khan.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Vocalist Shakila Ahmed with Siar Haseq on Tabla. (All photos: Ras H. Siddiqui) A music event last month in Mid Town Sacramento drew close to a hundred Desi origin enthusiasts of\u00a0Geets,\u00a0Ghazals, Bhajans, Sangeet\u00a0and more, which is not too unusual while taking into account the two singers which were slated to perform, writes Ras H. Siddiqui….<\/p>\n

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