OLE! GOA'S FIRST LATINO BAND IS ON STAGE
By Frederick Noronha
PANJIM, Dec 4: Their inspiration is Gloria Estefan and Ricky Martin . Their
belief is that they too can carve out a fan following for their niche choice of
music. Their goal is build a name by belting out numbers which this pocket of
India could have a natural flair for.
Newly-formed 'Obligato' calls itself Goa's first Latino band.
"We really look forward to becoming Goa's live music ambassadors with palns
for performing all over India and internationally through a Mumbai-based artiste
management agency Freebase," says bass player Colin D'Cruz.
"It sounds brilliant," gushed Afro-British salsa dancer from the UK
Tony Ainsley, who dropped in to watch the seven-member group practise in
Calangute on the weekend.
"That's the essence of Latin music. It makes people to get up and dance.
It's so infectious," quipped Tony's salsa dance-partner Debi, who's
British, and deep into this kind of rhythm.
Unlike most other bands, this one is not keen on playing the
a-little-of-everything kind of music that sometimes makes Goan
Western music performances so predictable... or even repetitive.
"I've been thinking for sometime about forming this band in Goa, because
this place is associated with Latin music.If a band from Goa goes to Delhi or
Mumbai and plays, it's big news," admits D'Cruz (40). He's a Goan whose
family has been based in the Mumbai suburb of Santa Cruz and who is now based in
Calangute.
D'Cruz entered the 'Limca Book of Indian Records' for playing with the most
number of bands. "I've been with 54 groups. But unfortunately they
mentioned me as a brass player instead of a bass-player. And there's a world of
a difference," he says in his soft-spoken style.
As they belt out practise numbers, the catchy Latino beat makes its magic felt.
Bystanders can't help tapping feet. "We've got to finish practise by 1:30
(in the afternoon), because there are elderly people staying nearby,"
drummer Lester Godinho cautions his band-mates. But the sessions stretches way
beyond target, as the musicians work to perfect their beat.
Donna Noronha says this is the first time she's singing in Spanish. "But
I've been able to cope. It's not so tough, though knowing a little French does
help," she says modestly.
Born in Mumbai, Donna moved to Goa with her family in 1987. "My dad Tony is
a musician too. He has been a Jazz pianist at the Mandovi's and other hotels. He
recently interrupted that as he was unwell. My grandfather is 98 and is still
composing music," she narrates.
Donna Noronha says she opted to try this form of music as she was looking
forward to "something different" after six years of the same thing.
"I wanted something more creative," says she.
"This music is very different and very challenging. We're new to it. We
have to keep hearing (Spanish) constantly. Thanks to the Internet, it's now
possible to go to a cybercafe, and download Spanish songs. Then we hear it three
to four times... or maybe a hundred times," she says.
Julius Fernandes of Parra, a one-time Herald employee who also had a stint in
the Gulf and had earlier been with groups like the Cascades for eight years, is
also keen to try out something different. Given that Goan bands have been blamed
with repetitively playing the same type of music, and sometimes the numbers too,
the Latino beat could offer a change.
"It's lovely. It's full of rhythm and full of pulse," says Julius
Fernandes. He took a break from music in between.
Does he expect this new experiment to click? "Yeah. It's rhythm that
everybody understands. They get a lift instantly," he says, talking about
the charm of Spanish-Latin American style music which otherwise seems to be
hardly exploited adequately by a region like Goa.
N. Ashok Kumar, from Bangalore, is also part of the group and plays the Djembe.
This percussion instrument comes from the country of Senegal in Western Africa.
"How I ended up with that instrument is a long story," says Ashok
Kumar.
He explains that he was part of a theatre group in Bangalore, and had a German
friend who was also a musician. Earlier he had learnt the classical tabla, but
has since shifted. "There's a lot of scope for percussions in this kind of
music. Of course, it's the first time that I'm with a band that specialises in
Latin music," says he.
Lesley Packiam, the female vocalist who was earlier Delhi-based, moved down from
a career of singing in Delhi's five-star hotels. "This is really something
unique. It is different from what other bands are doing. Goan crowds are far
more appreciative," says she.
Twentytwo-year-old Gregory D'Souza, the lead player, has been playing since 17,
when he started with a rock band. "This is a different feel. We have been
playing pop all the time in the past. I feel this is far better. Everyone else
is doing common stuff," he argues.
Lester Godinho (42), an artiste in his own right, is also the son of prominent
musician of the yesteryears, Leslie Godinho. "We Goans taught the rest of
India (Western) music. Almost everyone had some teacher who was Goan. There's
such a lot of musical talent here, but it's not channelised properly," he
complains.
Godinho also argues that Goans have lost out in the Western music scene because
"our priorities are not right". As he points out, this state still has
institutions like the state-funded Kala Academy, where one can learn Western
music at a very nominal charge. "We don't have something like that in
Mumbai. But are we using such facilities enough?" he adds.
Like some of his other colleagues, Godinho is one of those who moved down to Goa
some time back from Colaba, Mumbai. Any regrets? "As far as music is
concerned, yes. But the place is beautiful," he says. Earlier, he says, he
tried out "all" forms of Western music, whether Jazz, rock, pop and
even the classical orchestra.
So, the group believes, that if Latino music can prove to be such a rage across
the globe, why should India be immune? It hopes to spread out its reach from
tiny Goa.
D'Cruz says he plans to take the band to other cities, because "there's no
money in Goa". His colleagues note that some players get as little as Rs
300 for a gig in a hotel. Considering that their earnings are not daily, this
can make music an unviable career.
D'Cruz believes in building up niche groups. "I've tried almost everything.
Languages are no problem. I've played for Gujarati 'dandiyas' or even with a
Hindi orchestra," he notes.
Some of his specialist groups during past years in Bombay, now Mumbai, have
included the 'Blue Genes' which only played Blues, 'The Suburban Jazz Ensemble'
(specialising in Jazz), and the quirkly named 'Brown Indian Band' that focussed
on East-West Fusion.
Says D'Cruz: "I think this is an act that we can be taken from goa to other
parts of the country or other countries. The
repetoire here is salsa, samba, songo, soca...in a word, Latino, along with
Goan mandos and Portuguese dance music."
"There is even a special Latino Grammy contest now," says D'Cruz. This
X'mas, they'll be at Calcutta. "The Internet has made (marketing talent and
getting access to music) much more easier," D'Cruz adds. To fans who
might not be near by, he promises that all Obligato performaces will be webcast
at their site www.hullocheck.com
EMAIL CONTACTS: Colin D'Cruz <colinbassman@hotmail.com>