VIKRAM HAZRA IN CONCERT

Vikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will visit Durban this coming week.

He will perform for at a sit-down dinner and concert in the Kendra Hall (hosted in association with Kendra) on May 10 and in the Olive Convention Centre (Durban Ice Rink) on May 13.

Vikram Hazra doesn't just play music; he opens up a doorway for his audiences to touch their own soul. His concerts evoke strong reactions from diverse audiences across the globe. Years of spiritual sadhana, (ego-transcending spiritual practice) along with uncompromising attention to tonal crafting and sound design, as well as the gift of an impeccable musical ear, have helped create Hazra’s unique sound. "Our style of spiritual music involves sculpting sound in such a way that the listener hears the silence contained within," he says.

From the simplest of Indian folk bhajans (Indian devotional song) to the compositions of Adi Shankaracharya; from Buddhists chants to African and African-American spirituals; from the philosophy of poet-saints like Kabeer, Meera, Raidas and Jaydev to contemporary blues and jazz, Hazra’s concerts seamlessly meld diverse styles into an organic whole.

Hazra is a writer, philosopher, media producer, and social activist. He is programme director for the International Art of Living Foundation and, in this capacity, travels across the world, conducting workshops on personal excellence for corporates and initiating community development and service projects that provide basic amenities to underprivileged communities.

Hazra's concerts have drawn crowds of over 25,000 people in some parts of India. He has performed in over 30 countries, at venues ranging from London's Bloomsbury Theatre to Johannesburg's Linder Auditorium and Mumbai's Shanmukhananda Hall and NCPA Tata Theatre, and a host of international colleges. He has also made a host of recordings and has released an array of musical and inspirational CDs.

He has also accompanied Guru HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on delegations to countries as diverse as Pakistan and Mongolia, and has been a delegate at various international platforms including the United Nations MilleniumWorld Peace Summit.

For his Africa concerts, his band comprises Vikram Hazra on vocals, flute, electric guitar, nylon-string guitar and guitar synthesizer; Shivraj (Mizo) Doss on electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, arrangements, and Ajay Kadam on tablas, electronic percussion.

He will perform for at a sit-down dinner and concert in the Kendra Hall (hosted in association with Kendra) on May 10 from 18h30 where tables of ten can be booked (R1,000 per table of ten).

His second performance takes place in the Olive Convention Centre (Durban Ice Rink) on May 13 at 16h00. Tickets: R75, R100, R200 and R300.

Bookings for both performances through Kenny Bechoo on 082 447 2903 / kennnyb@telkomsa.net or Amrika on 031 409 1442. For more information visit http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/12/31/stories/2005123102030100.htm or http://www.vikramhazra.com/