Musical collaboration between US Air Force Band and Indian ghatam player

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A music video has been jointly released by the acclaimed Indian percussion artist Giridhar Udupa, and the Hawaii-based United States Air Force Band of the Pacific. Udupa plays the ghatam.</p>
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The musical collaboration came about as the band's commitment to support Aero India 2021, and to reinforce the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership and people-to-people ties between the two nations.</p>
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The original plan of the Band included a live performance with Indian Udupa but the outbreak of Covid-19 scuttled it.</p>
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In the released video, Udupa performs traditional Indian rhythms on the Ghatam — India's most ancient percussion instruments — while Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz of the US Band complements on the native Puerto Rican "Barril de Bomba" — another ancient percussion instrument.</p>
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Though each soloist performs in their traditional musical language, the energy and passion of their music is universal. In a statement on Facebook, the band said: "We can't wait to have an in-person cultural exchange with our new friend Udupa and the people of India.”</p>
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The original song "Open Clusters" was composed by the saxophone instrumentalist with the Ban, Staff Sergeant Luis Rosa. It is a musical fusion of two masters of Indian and Puerto Rican culture and rhythm, stated the statement.</p>
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Other artists in the musical composition are Senior Airman Guy James on guitar, Staff Sergeant Andrew Detra on bass, and Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz on percussion.</p>
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"We are honoured and extremely grateful to be able to produce this musical collaboration for all of our viewers worldwide,” said the Ban’s Publicity Section Chief Technical Sergeant Wilfredo Cruz.</p>
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Udupa talking about the long-distance collaboration, said, "The newly composed track with incredible musicians from the U.S. Air Force Band. The composition perfectly fits into the world music scene."</p>
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The United States Air Force Band of the Pacific is a squadron of professional U.S. Air Force musicians that performs in diverse musical configurations and fulfills community relations and military functions throughout the Western Pacific region.</p>
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The Bengaluru-based Udupa is an artist with three decades of experience of collaborations with eminent artists across the world, with concert visits to more than 50 countries. He has performed at the many prestigious venues in the world including Carnegie Hall in New York City, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and The Wortham Center in Houston, Texas.</p>
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<em>(With inputs from IANS)</em></p>