A fun celebration of good music and good friends
Multi-faceted musician: Rukshan on the harmonica. Pix by Indika Handuwala
Rukshan Perera’s shows are always a treat. Great musicians, good music and a polished performance all come together in a rare mix at his ‘Live in Concert’ sessions.
The most recent, held on March 5, was no different. From rock ‘n’ roll to pop to jazz to western classical themes to traditional melodies and baila – it was all there. The performers, too, were diverse, from jazz bands to classical ensembles to choral singers and bite-sized pop singers to traditional multi-instrumentalists. The show delivered a great evening of entertainment to its audience, no doubt. But more importantly, it showcased the laudable musicianship and generosity of a legacy-building entertainer.
The first number was a new composition by Perera – I’ll Keep Fighting. The evocative song about fighting cancer for a “better day” set the theme for the show. The proceeds from the evening were donated to the Karapitiya Cancer Hospital through the Trail campaign.
Maa Baala Kaley, was the first piece in the programme to receive some enthusiastic applause. The popular sentimental song was twisted into a funny reminiscence of Perera’s days of being caned at school. Right on its tail came another favourite funny one: What Time Is It…? Drummer Lelum Ratnayake took on the vocals for this piece (Perera was suffering a bad throat), and evidently enjoyed himself. The piece is subtle – a simple, laid-back jam that shines with Perera’s love of jazz. Similarly fun and plain good music was heard in Sri Lankan Blues, the song about missing home. This is a funky piece with a thumping bass line, leading to the inevitable drum and bass battle. Chris Wickremenayake joined the band on keyboards for this one while the surprise guest of the evening, Jananath Warakagoda, took percussion, and Perera himself brought out his harmonica for a brief solo.
The most successful bit of entertainment that evening, though, must have been Magey Moley. Perera was joined on stage by his brother Melantha Perera and their friends, “the boys from Moratuwa” for this fun acapella piece. Perera modulated through the song with characteristic ease, and the chorus followed happily as he sang about the troubles his mind endures. Halfway through the song, a Dr Merlin Sylva was brought onstage to diagnose the mental condition and prescribe medication. Perera demonstrated excellent acting skills and a commendable poker face throughout the hilarious skit.
Despite the incredible amounts of fun entertainment and stellar musicianship the evening presented, there were moments that disappointed musically. Rukshan Perera is a classically trained jazz musician with a lifetime of performance experience in a variety of genres. Expectations are inevitably very high at his shows. In this context, the occasional passage sung off-key (by the choir in Meaning of Justice, for example) or out of style (say, the somewhat laboured vocal rendition of the waltz theme from Blue Danube in Life is a Song) is certainly more jarring than at any other light-hearted musical evening. This is not to say that either of these performances were unpleasant. The first was a very dramatic piece wonderfully brought to life by Warakagoda, the De Lanerolle Brothers, the Colombo Brass Ensemble and a chorus of friends. And some lovely high notes were executed by the De Lanerolle Brothers and the chorus in the second.
Rukshan and friends on stage
Colombo is usually quick to stand for an ovation – her audiences love a glitzy show and big singing. But unfortunately, they rarely recognize true showmanship or value a legacy-builder. Rukshan Perera was commended multiple times during the evening for his giving spirit. The focus of this generosity that evening was the monetary contribution made from the show towards Trail. Yet in the final moments, Clifford Richards captured the priceless contribution Perera continues to make to the music industry, by “bringing all of [these artists] on one stage”.
Clifford Richards himself performed a hilarious Seeya Biwwa Wine and another new composition Selfie complete with drunk-old-uncle sarong and slur. Warakagoda, brought a variety of percussive instruments onstage over the course of the programme. His performance in Backwaters on the Raj brought the traditional Thammaettama and Udekkiya to an unlikely audience alongside Nuwan Balasuriya’s bamboo flute and Lydia Goonetilleke’s violin. This piece, another of Perera’s old favourites, is a testament to the composer’s sensitivity to the nuance of the genres he brings together onstage.
And then one absolutely cannot forget the Little Sopranos who sang another new composition, Song for Sri Lanka. These youngsters smiled and danced with such confidence, revelling in the rare opportunity.
From start to finish, the evening was a fun celebration of good music and good friends – Perera’s hallmark that seems not to grow old.
Rukshan Perera Live in Concert VII took place at the Bishop’s College Auditorium on Sunday, March 5, 2017. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Karapitiya Cancer Hospital through The Old Boys’ Union of Royal College and Trail Sri Lanka.