Roots revisited album exploring the rich history of Bangladeshi music - Bangladesh is not only a land of Rivers, it’s a land of song. Ancient songs, full of poetry and spiritual meaning, can be heard everywhere. From popular boat songs to the great works of the mystic poet Lalon Shai, these are living traditions that continue to inspire each new generation.
I wanted to present a ‘roots revisited’ album, filled with the sounds you hear across Bangladesh, but rarely on the international scene. With this in mind I approached Bangladesh’s top dhol maestro, and my personal friend, Nazrul Islam.
Nazrul has performed and recorded with virtually every major artist in the country. From popular Bengali folk to Baul, Bangla rock fusion to Bangla Afro Latin jazz – he’s done it all, and is a living legend. I asked him to put together a super group, to represent the traditional sounds of Bangladesh.
What he put together was a group of Dons – On flute Jalal Ahmed, and on dotara Mokaddes Ali – both musical heavyweights on the scene, zooming around on their motorbikes through bombs and hartals (political strikes) to get to our sessions. On Dupki and tablas is Bappi, forever smiling, and on Ektara, Biju, forever being mischievous. Directing proceedings from his dhol, the man himself, Nazrul.
To sing, he chose a trio who are the finest in their genres, as well as long time collaborators on numerous projects.
Baul Rob Fakir comes from Kushtia - birthplace of Lalon Shah. There’s a lot of talk about the Bauls, and how they follow the spiritual teachings of Lalon. Well Rob is the real deal. He has an incredible aura, befitting of a spiritual man, and a truly hypnotic quality to his singing, which can best be described as mesmerising.
Representing the next generation is Labik Kamal Gaurob – multi- instrumentalist, singer/songwriter, producer, arranger, and also survivor (after blowing himself up in his energy-efficient car – gas leak).
Completing the front line is the incredible Dewan Baby Akhtar – folk singer, violin player, incredible swing, consummate professional and also the wife of Nazrul - the real boss.
Joining me from London to help produce was Tansay Omar, who also brought along a portable studio which we set up to do informal overdubs. Recording the main sessions in his new studio “Echo Bass” in Dhaka was engineer and fellow pianist Saad Chowdhury. Together the three of us were taken through a master class of Bengali sounds – travelling in the company of legends.
Includes unlimited streaming of Soul of Bengal
via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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Streaming + Download
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
Chatok Pakhi ( Fakir Lalon Shai ) –
The chatok bird follows clouds as they move along as it only drinks rain water
and no other.
Delicious are the drops of rain,
Like manna from heaven.
To find these drops one needs to labour As does the Chatok Pakhi
Simply yearning for it is not enough.
The clouds play truant and hard to find But the Chatok is focused in his mind To quench his thirst he has to find
The rain drops that hold his life
Or else the Chatok would rather die.
Fakir Lalon says - A mind is destined to roam all over It flows and moves as do the clouds
But with perseverance and devotion
You can give it direction
And reach the destination of your desire.
credits
from Soul of Bengal,
released April 13, 2017
feat Labik Kamal Gaurob
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