surprising there doesn’t seem to be anyone blogging on the dover lane conference, or is it just not coming up in google search? I had a look at the performing artist line-up. It is interesting. There is a predominance of Bengali artists and of instrumentalists. On the whole I think it is a good reflection of the top people, Venkatesh Kumar, Shahid Parvez, Rashid Khan, Girja devi, Pt. Jaisraj, and others. I might be skeptical of the choice of N. Rajam and Manjiri Asnare-Kelkar but that might only reflect my personal prejudices. As I have noticed with Saptak festival, not much is given to the Maharashtran female vocalists with the exception of Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande. If i were the organizer of a major festival like dover lane, I would do anything to get Kishori Amonkar or Parveen Sultana. After these divas Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil is the darling of the public this side of the country. I have already blogged about my other favorites, Padma Talwarkar, vijaya jadav-gatliwar, Asha Khadilkar, shubada Paradkar, Shubha Joshi and others. I really enjoyed the blogs from the Sawai Gandharva festival from Pune. Many thanks to whoever that was. By the way I am very keen to get the recording of Malini Rajurkar’s bihag tappa that she sang there this year. I have learned that tappa and I would like to hear how she sings it, especially if she uses the tal structure indicated by Ginde saheb in his transcription of Ratanjankars’ compositions. I prefer it in two avaartans rather than one.
well seems some one at dover lane was listening – shubhada paradkar is singing this year at dover lane!! i dont agree with your scepticism about n rajamji’s inclusion – she is a superb top musician. manjari asnare represents upcoming youth and is most well taught as well as proficient – I feel an good inclusion too. One shd not only hear established stars! i heard ustad aslam hussain khan from mumbai for the 1st time at saptak lasst sunday – am floored i have never heard him before.