Jaipur Kawa Brass BandDance Of The Cobra

Hear the sound of the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band as they march full steam ahead into your eardrums. Their riotous trumpets, trombones and euphoniums are peppered with a winding clarinet and loud, clattering drums. At home under the beat of the bright Rajasthan sun, the bells and valves of their instruments glisten brightly in the haze. Meanwhile their hot-headed music romps its way through an exploration of Indian brass band tradition, love songs played boisterously sparkle alongside joyously cacophonous orchestration.

Brass bands have been popular in India since the 1750s when the ensembles were introduced by the then ruling British colonialists. Today, brass bands are firmly a part of Indian tradition and are hugely popular at weddings, births, national events and religious ceremonies. Leader of the band, Hameed Khan ‘Kawa’ grew up in Jaipur listening to the sound of the local brass bands blasting out at numerous parades and festivals in the city. Hameed hailed from a musical lineage and was schooled in Hindustani classical and folk traditions from a young age. As a talented tabla player, in 1984 he was invited to perform in France to play in a fusion ensemble. Here, enmeshed in the creative Parisian milieu, Hameed developed the idea of blending his traditional grounding with

his long-held interest in brass band music. Returning to his home continent, he swiftly set about forming Jaipur Kawa Brass Band, the vehicle for his spectacular artistic desires.

Gathering his ensemble, Hameed only made time for the finest gypsy musicians from Rajasthan. The line-up also includes a hypnotic Kalibelia dancer. The Kalibelia people are a nomadic Rajasthan tribe who traditionally live on the fringes of society. The Kalibelia dance, known as sapera, mirrors and mimics the movements of a writhing snake, an animal for which they are famed for charming. The band is also accompanied by a fakir, whose enthralling on stage antics include swallowing sabres, outrageous juggling and extreme gravity-defying balancing.

The show-stopping cavalcade makes for a striking spectacle and has earned the wayfaring band performances in Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and extensively across the UK – from the Isle of Sheppey to Penzance. Dance Of The Cobra encapsulates the dynamism of their live performances in stunning audio quality.

The repertoire of the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band captures Hameed’s vision of

eclecticism – meshing together gypsy dances with popular songs, Bollywood blockbuster soundtracks, traditional folk, classical and all that is in between. The words are unfalteringly saccharine, ballads of longing soaked in icing-sugar sweetness. Memories of ‘happiness like a flower about to open’ nestle alongside calls for a darling beloved to come to ‘thirsty lips’, or

for ‘the Maharaja who rules my dreams’ to return. As with everything ‘Kawa’ though, the melodious lyrics are performed with just the right balance of deep drama and high voltage joyfulness. Cast aside your expectations and join the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band parade, as they stamp, stomp and sidestep their irresistible Dance Of The Cobra.

For a full list of musicians, videos and more, visit www.worldmusic.net/danceofthecobra

Tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 11 composed, written and arranged by Hameed Khan Tracks 1, 3, 6, 9, 10 and 12 trad, arranged by Hameed Khan All songs published by Riverboat UK Music (MCPS)

Produced by Hameed Khan ‘Kawa’ Recorded by Olivier Millo, S Kalyani Studio, New Delhi Mixed by Sylvio Suave, Virtuel Audio, Paris Mastered by Laurent Herniaux, Virtuel Audio, Paris

Sleeve notes by Rachel Jackson Coordinated by Brad Haynes

Jaipur Kawa Brass Band would like to thank Sylvio Suave, Olivier Millo, Laurent Herniaux, Brigitte Singh, Marie-Noelle Jaffre, Bruno, Siraj Khan Kawa and all at S Kalyani Studio.

Thanks to Phil Stanton, Sandra Alayón-Stanton and all at World Music Network

Photographs courtesy of Jonais Spenoy in association with Hameed Khan ‘Kawa’

Design by Brad Haynes

Visit www.worldmusic.net where you can listen to sound samples of all World Music Network and Riverboat Records releases

TUGCD1073 Made in EURiverboat Records/World Music Network® & © World Music Network 2013T. 020 7498 5252 F. 020 7498 5353E. post@worldmusic.net W. www.worldmusic.net LC 11068

01 Piya Tu Ab To Aaja 03:42

02 Mera Pyar Rahega Tere Sung 04:27

03 Gore Gore O Banke Chhore 04:16

04 Zindagi Ke Haseen Mod 03:14

05 Dil Ka Chor Mera Jab Aayega 04:38

06 Laal Laal Gaal Jaan Ke Hain Laagu 03:02

07 Mera Dil Hai Dilruba 04:10

08 Thumri Baaja 07:38

09 Jiya O Jiya Kuchh Bol Do 04:51

10 Soniya Dil Da Mamla 04:41

11 Phool Khilte Hain Pyar Ke Mausam Mein 03:15

12 Yeh Kali Kali Aankhen 03:37

Total Playing Time: 51:58

Let loose the riotous trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, clarinet and loud, clattering drums of the Jaipur Kawa Brass Band as they romp their way through the joyous world of Indian brass from Rajasthani folk to Bollywood and beyond.

For Promotional Use Only