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International Flute Journal is embarking on a series about the Carnatic flute tradition and the ancient instrument known as Venu
Flute Jayant
Represented by artists whose names are less well known than Hindusatani or North Indian performers such as flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia, sitarist Ravi Shankar and others, the Carnatic or South Indian tradition, while enormously popular in many Indian states, is represented by artists who need some introduction to American and European audiences. These include several very fine flutists.
Among these is a young artist whose name, Flute Jayant, is becoming well known. By great good fortune, just as we were planning these articles, Jayanth has sent us the video clip below along with the commentary that follows.
Please enjoy “. . . this popular composition of Saint Thyagaraja in Raga Andholika set to Adi thalam. In this track, Jayanth is accompanied on the violin by Vid. L.Ramakrishnan and on the mridangam by Vid. Sai Giridhari.”
The lyrics for the kris, or composition are given in English translation, as follows:-
Drinking the ever tasteful essence of raaga, why don’t you rejoice, O mind! It gives the fruit of ritual, mediation (union), sacrifice, and enjoyment all together! As known to Tyagaraja, the jeevan muktas are those who enjoy the melody that is the glorious form of SadAshiva, that is the sound of tuneful Omkara.
Jayant provides the following bio:
Flute Jayant
Flute Jayant:- Jayant is the most sought after Carnatic flautist of his generation. A prodigy, affectionately called Flute Jayant by thousands, is a young musician of national and international repute.
Born in a musical family, he was naturally drawn into early training on bamboo flute in the Indian classical music tradition of guru-shishya parampara (teacher to student transmission) since the age of five, from his grandfather and guru, late Kalaimamani Flute T. S. Sankaran, a Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee himself and a prime disciple of the legendary Flute Mali.
With his in-born talent, deep passion and primordial training, Flute Jayant gave his maiden solo concert at the age of seven. His ability to play Ragam-Thanam-Pallavi (or, RTP) in three speeds (or, ThrikAlam) at that age, surprised many senior musicians, co-artistes and audience alike. Jayanth has a unique, virtuoso fingering and flute blowing technique to present his music beautifully even in the very difficult lower octaves on the bass and double-bass, thick-walled bamboo flutes, while maintaining shruthi suddham (perfect pitching) and excellent tonal quality. His expressive, bhava-laden rendering brings out the depth and soul of the lyrical aspects of compositions he presents (gayaki -form). As a result, Flute Jayant’s over 1600 solo concerts in India and all over the world, have consistently won him lasting appreciation from one and all, including senior musicians, co-artistes, connoisseurs and rasikas (or, music lovers).
Flute Jayant
His unique playing virtuosity and lyrical expressivity have inspired many flautists of the current generation and the younger crop to imbibe his style. Flute Jayant has been invited to perform regularly at pre-eminent sabhas and venues such as the Madras Music Academy, Swathi Sangeethothsavam, Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, Shanmukhananda Hall –Mumbai, Kalakshethra Foundation – Siri Fort-New Delhi, Purana Quila – Delhi, Chowdiah Hall – Bangalore, Prashanthi Nilayam – Puttaparthi, Kennedy Center – Washington D.C, Drive East Festival – New York, Darbar Festival – UK and Milaap Festival – UK, to name a few.
He has performed at other major centers and festivals across India, USA, Canada, France, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Australia, Dubai, Kuwait, Singapore, Malaysia, Bali, Mauritius and Re-union Islands. Some of these have included jugalbandhis/collaborations with renowned Hindustani musicians like Flute virtuoso Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Shehnai Pt. Ashwani Shankar; Veena Rajhesh Vaidhya, Mandolin U. Rajesh, and others.
Jayant is also an empanelled artiste with the ICCR. He has been invited to perform for Sangeeth Sammelan and National program of music by All India Radio . He was awarded ‘A’ grade by All India Radio at a very young age. He also has the privilege of performing for the Honourable President of India in Daman Diu.
Flute Jayant
Jayant has won numerous awards and recognitions to date, including Kalki Krishnamurthy Memorial Award for 2018 (September 9, 2018), THE BEST INSTRUMENTALIST AWARD seven times from The Madras Music Academy, The Bharat Ratna Dr. M. S. Subbalakshmi Fellowship from Sri Shanmukhananda Sabha – Mumbai, The MOST PROMISING YOUNG MUSICIAN 2015 award from TAG center, Chennai, YUVA KALA BHARATI from Bharat Kalachar in 2012 to name a few.
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PETER WESTBROOK