Brimful of Asha
Last night SFist went to see the inaugural live collaboration between the Bay Area's own Kronos Quartetand Bollywood legend Asha Bhosle. Competing only with her sister for the title of most prolific singer in recorded history, Bhosle and KQ teamed up recently to re-record a dozen or so RD Burman compositions from Bhosle's 20,000 (!) song catalogue for hifalutin label Nonesuch, home to NPR faves like Mali's Amadou & Mariam and indie legend Stephin Merritt.
The crowd was pretty upmarket - with tickets topping out over 100 clams, this was not the sort of bustling young artist bash that YBCA has been excelling at of late. Kronos kicked off the evening solo, as it were, with a performance of a Terry Riley composition that featured frequent guest performer (so frequent that Kronos joked she was their newest member) Wu Man rocking the pipa and vocals.
By SFist Isaac
Aside from some thrilling Yngwie Malmsteen moments, the piece was a tad directionless, and left us wanting for some excitement (and beer). After the intermission, Asha emerged with tabla player to palpable joy from the crowd, who were clearly well-versed in all things Bhosle, shouting out requests over the course of the evening. In halting English, Bhosle introduced her songs, which included hits like Dum Maro Dum and Chura Liya Hai Tumne Jo Dil Ko, as well as obscurities selected by the Kronos Quartet, who she gently chided several times to the glee of the audience.
The Quartet did an admirable job of recreating with only six players what Burman had done in the studio with an orchestra, showcasing the sort of dynamism that have made his film score work so legendary. And Bhosle's voice, particularly emerging from the tiny body of a 72 year old woman, was absolutely wonderous. Comprehension of Hindi or Bengali was totally unnecessary, Asha's trademark lilt conveying more subtlety and emotion than all the Death Cab for Cutie ballads combined. Tickets still remain for this evening's show, and this team-up will only happen three more times ever (in NY, LA and London) so by all means, do not miss this chance to see a legend!