BWW Reviews: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2014: SUFI SOUL Showcases A Religious Tradition With Contemporary Style

Reviewed By Christine Pyman, Friday 28th February 2014

Sufi Soul is more than a glimpse into Sufi music, it's an event which makes you feel that you have stepped into a private party in another part of the world. These musicians, predominately locally based, shared with us their joy and a taste of their culture.

Nine musicians, from Afghanistan, India and Australia, played and sang traditional songs, interspersed with contemporary ballads, all with a mystically haunting resonance typical of the religious sounds of Sufism. In keeping with tradition, the musicians were seated unshod and cross-legged, and didn't rehearse beforehand, so there was a spontaneous freshness about the performance for them as well as the audience.

Casualness was also encouraged for the audience and, when some got up and danced, the delight on the musicians' faces was obvious.

Sufi Soul comprises the singer, Hazara musician Feroz Ansari from Kabul, who also plays harmonium, Aman Kumar, a Punjabi guitarist and keyboard player, and Keith Preston on Bouzouki and santoor, plus a number of guest artists.

The three singers, Farid Drokhshan, Feroz Ansari, and Sunny Thind, took it in turn to perform a set each of two to three songs, and all played harmonium as they sang. Thind's performance was particularly striking and powerful, with his passion for the music entrancing us, especially with the hypnotic, repetitive sounds of praise.

Tabla players, Makha Singh and Jay Dabgar, kept the rhythm sounding throughout, and guitarist, Quentin Eyers, added another level of intricacy.

Adelaide should feel proud to have such a group of talented musicians available to entertain and educate us.

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