Kama Sutra Set to Music? : Juno Award-winner Kiran Ahluwalia in Concert

Just another love song? Not if Juno Award-winning vocalist KIRAN AHLUWALIA can help it. Perk up your mojo by learning a thing or two from this Indo-Canadian musician, who’ll be performing in concert at the Norman Rothstein Theatre on Friday, March 17th. Ahluwalia sings a form of classical Persian poetry called ghazal, which explores “the many moods of love, from the ecstatic to the despondent, from pursuing the beloved to feeling the restlessness of unrequited love”. Ahluwalia herself describes ghazals as “highly-literate pick up lines”!

After studying with a ghazal maestro in Bombay, Ahluwalia began to compose her own repertoire of sensual, boundary-pushing contemporary ghazals, first released in her 2001 CD, Kashish (Attraction). Last summer, she released a third CD full of re-mixes and collaborations, including new songs with Cape Breton fiddler, Natalie MacMaster. And just in case you fear ballad overload, Ahluwalia will also perform some fun, upbeat Punjabi songs.

Get in the mood by listening to samples of Kiran’s sensuous ghazals by clicking on the titles below (Requires RealPlayer):
Koka (Nose Ring)
Vo Kuch (Passion)
Meri Gori Gori (Yellow Bangles)

COASTAL JAZZ & BLUES SOCIETY presents KIRAN AHLUWALIA IN CONCERT
With Rez Abbasi (guitar), Narendra Budhakar (tabla), Ashok Bidaye (harmonium).
Venue: Norman Rothstein Theatre, 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver
Show Time: 8:00PM
Tickets: $20/$18, buy here
Call the Jazz Hotline: 604-872-5200

More
For Kiran Ahluwalia’s official website, click here.
For Kiran's concert info for Victoria, BC and Gibsons, BC, click here.
Review from the Toronto Star, click here
Interview with Kiran Ahluwalia from 2003, prepared by CBC broadcaster Adam Goddard, click here