Monika called for an early start of the jam, lets be there by five thirty for it gets late by the time we pack up,she said. So I engaged express gear, had a mysore plain dosa all done in ghee at my favourite restaurant, with guitar lying silently by my side. I reached bandstand sharp at five thirty. While en route from bandra station to the promenade, the autorickshawala who did the courtsey of locomoting yours truly, gave me oodles of gyan about lending money and applying your mind in some cases. He was one major music lover and would not let me get off before I rendered and cramped in the auto version of 'ik hasina thee'.
At the peomenade alone and wondering what to do..to wait or start my customary wailing of my signature song 'simple man' I remembered to call Kekoo, told him that most of us were gathering that day. Then when i sat down to write something, Mark, a Pastor as I later discovered, came up and asked me what I was upto. He told me of the miracles that started happening in his life when he 'surrendered to the kingdom of God'. A very nice man he blessed me and promised to come and check us out later as we played. Prashanti and Pulin, silent witnesses to this episode were lying low, camouflaged as the audience. Some time later, swiss time miss Monika came, only to be reminded by me of the Indianness in her swiss time.
After some customary greetings and all we begun, with the song simple man, and the energies grew. We went on to play mae ree, and when we had a nice crowd, introduced the concept. We picked up issues..said stuff about not judging each other and forgiveness which was well recieved with specific incidences in the jam to relate to. Most of us think our lives are working exclusive of the community and the society and we fail to relate that all that happens to all effects all.
As an old uncle came down to sing some beauts from the retro zone..there were cheers all around..we picked up tempo and the jam erupted when people could not contain their energies any longer and we all stepped down to dance. Vinay came somewhere towards the end of the jam and took to playing Bandeh by Indian ocean which I had played already and much more nicely (hehe) , Pulin was in good mood and swing as well, with Prashanti taking to the photo duties. Monika, her usual bubbly self got everybody cheering with her energy.
Kailash and Pulin did some songs as well, though we missed Tarun. The jam goes on, it brings people together, it gives belief to all of us with the meaning in our music. It gives us an outlet to say out what we want to say, it ignites the musician hidden in many people..the jam's a good thing! We talked to Kekoo after the jam, and he gave his inputs regarding forming a core group of people who work on MFM and its growth. With all his love he promised that he will continue to support us on MFM...he is God's hand to us!
Here are the pics:
Words of Wisdom: I listen to Pastor Mark
Pulin 'Strikes a Chord'
Great Guitar fingers! there is potential there, Kailash, Prashanti and Monika
We 'Roll with it'. I sing and dance while Monika cheers everyone.
This guy came up and did a great job, while his girlfriend cheered! great to have people contribute to our frog's croakings!
Chakk De Phatte. All the way from Sada Punjab. This guy has become a regular contributor and sings with a lot of heart!
'Maei ke Laal Jaikishan' , Thats our desi Michael Jackson.
Vinay entered late and started hoarse screaming!