The group of fun seekers sitting on the
barricade however had to bite dust when the
enthusiasm of those trying to do a jig while
seated on it led to the poles giving way.
There were also a few enthusiastic fans
of Jassi watching the event from outside the
venue, seated on the roof of their Maruti 800,
quite oblivious to the dent they may have put
there.
The police also decided to turn a blind
eye to the people tying to sneak in from under
the barricades.
The evening was perhaps a fitting end to
a weekend of festivities, including the Festival
of Gardens, Cyanide at the university, Business
India Computer Show in the parade ground and
then the Jassi night itself.
More Stories
More than just western Indian influences though, for this classically trained bhangra artiste. The training no doubt shows in his vocal prowess and dexterity. Jassis most inspiring musical influence is Shaukat Ali Khan. His training undr V S Jolly,m and then Puran Shah Koti of the Sufiana fame, stands him in good stead. As he himself syas, The real singers are the ones that are trained and sing classical music. That would disqualify almost the whole current crop of our singing starlets now!
Jassi, however, stands out from that crop, in that the rise to the top where today he would give Daler a serious run for his money, was far from a cakewalk. Yes, even balle balle bhangra stars can do the snail walk to fame. Even though Jassi began performing in the 80s, he remained J, the Obscure. It sas only the last year of the previous century that brought him national fame. In my earlier shows, I would merge with the crowd my songs stood out, not me. But now, people have started recognizing me. They take autographs along with my photo. It is an exhilarating and yet a humbling experience, confesses Jassi.
In Kudi Kudi, Jassi has been able to tinker around and experiment more than in his first album, which had a safer sound. Since I am already established, Jassi explains, I have been able to take greater risks in Kudi Kudi with songs like Saawan Di Raat, than I had been able to with Dil laye gayee. I have played with both Punjabi folk beats as well as dandiya rhythms. He worked in conjunction with eminet lyricist Babu Singh Mann, and music director Jaidev.
To say that a Punjabi geet gane walla munda and a salsa singer share common ground (or sound, in this context) would be pushing it, wouldnt you say? But heres where Jassi, our puttar Punjab da steps in. He does a complete Lou Bega on us not by singing about Monica, Sandra, Jessica, Erica and Rita But by centrig his latest album around the female species. The very title of the album says it all, twice over, a reinforcement, just in case you missed the point. Please be inroduced to Kudi Kudi, Jassis second album that comes close on the heels of his first, Dil laye gayee.
