The Barebone Jam of 24 June, the rainiest Sunday!

The rain Gods had different plans regarding our till now uninterrupted Music for Meaning jam of Sundays! With the rains playing hide and seek throughout the day, we officially called it of with a lot of yes-no yes-no! But 3 of us (Amar, Kaviraj and Suraj) with nothing better to do, managed to make it with just a tamborine and still have our jam! No pics though the camera would have drowned in the rain!

MFM Jam on a Rainy Sunday-17th June

As we had feared, it rained but we were there, rain or no rain! with the rain Gods giving us a little 'window' of time in which we could get our act together! We had a smaller audience, and we played for a very small while, before we were little blown away, saving out instruments and seeking shelter.

But this jam, it made me think...that probably hitting the center stage at the 'artist's court' at Bandra Bandstand promenade was not the best idea..probably we're going too organized..probably focusing too much on our performance...probably sitting there on the stairs with the people was a better place to get people spontaneously involved and jamming with us..I remember the days when simple people from among the audience would come and compose their lyrics 'on the fly' with us...that was a different kind of participatory fun.. gotta think about it..hmm..

That apart, people and we do enjoy, playing and singing together by the sea!


It was realy pleasent, and the people who like us sported the rain, did enjoy! I wish we could coontinue playing with a little shelter in the rains!

Music for Meaning in full swing...!

The wet windup! the 2 guys (stooping) at extreme right corner are regulars from the audience.

Music for Meaning @ the Mount Mary Church, Bandra, 16th June

Kekoo Gandhy invited the music for meaning gang to play at the Mohalla Comittee meeting held at the Mount Mary Church at Bandra. The Mohalla committee meetings are all about the people (neighborhood) and the Police joining hands to maintain communal harmony throughout the city. Music for Meaning was invited to liven up the meeting with their message of social unification, peace and freedom through music, while the members of the committee presented the work they had done for various causes. The meeting was chaired by the legendary ex-comisioner of police, Julio Ribeiro who appreciated music for meaning for its vision and efforts.

A part of the music for meaning group played at the Mount Mary Church at Bandra. L to R: (Names not in bold are the MFM gang)

Kingshuk, Suraj, Tarun, Kekoo gandhi, Amar, Julio Ribeiro, Kaviraj, Desmond. Kailash shot the picture.

MFM Jam @ Bandra on 10th June

We got to the 'Artist's court', our usual jam location at Bandra and were cheered to see a great board annoucing the MFM jam and its timings put up by Kekoo Gandhi. Vinay was hiding among the crowd when we started playing. The jam was a little low energy when we started, but got into tempo pretty soon, churning out our customry brand of underground, high energy music! Here are the pics!

AND...if all goes well, we're planning to go amplified on our next jam, so watch out for that!!



Tarun took to sitting amongst the audience!

Kailash was in full steam, going like a speed king on the guitar! Mr. Kekoo Gandhi in the background. Glad to have him support us!

Monika comes all the way from Thane (whoops!) to be part of the spirit of the jam!

Vinay with his rock star like antics!

Pulin on the guitar and Kaviraj on one of Tarun's range of things to beat! Yogesh in the background on the Dhapli!

The group winding up. You should know who's who by now!

MFM Jam @ Marine Drive on 8th June '07

Super it was! I reached Hotel Ambassador at 5pm and wasnt allowed to enter(I think it had something to do with my clothes. No Im serious... they didnt let me in!). There was supposedly an environment related protest walk happening around the hotel and Mr.Gandhi invited us to come there, play and interact with like minded people. Suraj couldnt make it so I filled in(dedication bro!). However, since I was refused entry & there was no one related to be seen around, I walked to the Sea Front and seated myself alongside a few college students and started playing. Things picked up and the guys joined in. A lady came forward and sang some beautiful old songs along with accompanying us on comparitively newer ones. And then, luckily, I finally saw protest walk organising itself at a short distance from us ("Save The Mangroves" - their cause). Mr. Gandhi was quick to spot us and introduced me to a few people. They requested us to play something for them and guys were enthusiastic enough to rally around the banners and sing "Hum Honge Kamyab". Some jam : )
I went back to playing for the people and a gentle man came forward and started off with a few bhajans and went onto to sing oldies by Mukesh, Manna De, etc, followed by Pankaj towards the end, who sang soulfull songs(Kumar Sanu all of 'em) and was pausing for a mere 5 secs between two consecutive songs. Very pepped up and very infective.

Dhasu jam!







Hum Honge Kamyaab : )



Ladies Aend Gentleman! Music For Meaning is .....


Mr. Lalit(extreme right) weaving his magic as Daimur listens on.


I have a few videos too. Will add them later on I guess : )

Ola!

The Jam of 3rd June 07

With the Rain Gods starting to bless Mumbai, we were apprehesive throughout the week whether we'll be able to do our lovely-outdoors-by-the-seashore jam. And the rains were there, but stopped just in time to create the loveliest of weathers for us to jam and enjoy! We're heading for malls for the next weekend if it rains!

We had a great meeting with Mr. Gandhi before the Jam, where we explained the reasoning, vision and objectives of our concept and had him totally with us. He's already started talking to people (powerful socially active people) and is helping us to create a platform to host music for meaning. We must say we are absolutely floored by the old man's (He's 83!) concern, energy and support. He was there in the jam too!

At the jam we had a nice crowd as usual. Vinay (Guitar, Vocals and stage grabbing!), Vijeeth (Vocals, and gradually Guitar!), Bilal (Guitar, Vocals, Mouth Organ) , Kailash (Guitar), Tarun (Djembe-A kind of drum) , Kingshuk (Vocals, Guitar and Jockeying), Kaviraaj (who plays Mridangam and Mandorin) joined us on this jam. He's played with greats like Shankar Mahadevan and Shivmani! Desmond although unwell was back with us in his usual great style! and me-Suraj (Guitar, Vocals) as the playing band. Missed Amar, Yogesh, Kuldeep, Poonam and Pulin. Minal, who's actively supporting the group was there too! Missed Alok and Rimmi Didi among the supporters.

Here's the Video of the jam

Here are the pics:

We had a large audience.........

And pretty nicely and aesthetically composed!

Kaviraaj, Who's the percussionist (Guy in blue jeans and cap and shades), Joined us on this jam. It was great jamming with him.

'Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky'! see the 'fire' emerging from Bilal's Guitar? He was setting the stage on fire! those are no special effects but a camera artifact! Sitting with the Drum is Tarun, Next to him on the dark green shirt is me. Nice angle on the cam!

That's the spirit of the jam! old and young! and you have *some* age diversity here! Mr. Gandhi (with the walking stick) is 83 and the kid must be 2?!!

This guy was one of the audience and could not help but hit the dance floor! what spirit!

Vinay was in full swing and did some great spontaneous improvisation! On numerous occasions we had light showers of rain and had to sing the 'Anti-Malhaar' Song to get the rain gods to give us a miss! and it worked, at least one time!!

The band in full swing! (L to R, Standing) Kingshuk (in the white T), Bilal (In the black T with rescue written), Vijeeth (Pink T, not clearly visible), Me (center, in the Balle Balle pose!), Desmond (Dark yellow T), Kailash (Bright Yellow T, Richie Blackmore ishtyle!)

Tarun, Sitting center with the drum.