Tunes of Senegal enthral city music enthusiasts

It was an aural treat for lovers of music, as Solo Cissokho strummed the 23 strings of the Kora to spread soothing ripples across the lawns of Tollygunge Club on Sunday evening.
The musician from Senegal, who looked imposing in an ornate bobou -the traditional gown-like garment in most of north and west Africa -also sang a solo in his powerful voice and matched his Kora-playing and singing skills with Gullu Khan and his lively Manganiar group from Rajasthan.This jugalbandi was, however, just the high point of an evening that also saw stellar per formances by Parvathy Baul and the Chisti brothers, among others.
Praising the Kolkata audience, Solo said, "It's wonderful to be in Kolkata, and the audience here seems very educated musically . It was lovely performing for them."
Ruhaniyat, the event, lived up to its now-established name by presenting one classic performance after another, all by masters of their fields, backed by the educated and enlightening compering by Nandini Mahesh.While the compere introduced the audience to the performers with interesting backgrounders, the artistes themselves enthralled all with powerful and flawless performances. One mystical number followed another, as the masters blended superb gayiki with the tunes and beats of traditional Indian instruments.
The climax, too, was perfect, as the Chisti brothers, led by Sarfaraz Chisti, took to the stage last and rendered a string of popular qawwalis that had most in the audience singing along. Some even shook a leg, as the brothers took turns to add masterful twists to the gayiki.
Over all, it was an evening of music that touched the souls of all those present.