Just take five…
Some good news from Pakistan. The BBC reported today on the success of Sachal Orchestra in Lahore that is thriving by reinterpreting classic jazz standards – like Brubeck’s Take Five – and giving them a South Asian twist. Pakistani musicians have seen their livelihoods collapse in recent years: musical tastes, instability and a growth of religious criticism have all impacted on them.
Their Indian cousins have also to a lesser extent seen their craft disappear and it’s from them that I find a picture in my archive taken on an Old Delhi roof.
India - Delhi - Traditional musicians play on a roof top in Chandni Mahal, Old Delhi, India. Once patronised by the Mughal rulers many now scrape a living playing weddings and social functions. Violinist Afzaal Zahoor leads Zeeshan Ahmad, a singer, Shankat Qureshi (tabla) and Shakeel Ahmad (Harmonia).
Tags: Afzaal Zahoor, baby, Chadni Mahal, child, Dave Brubeck, Delhi, harmonia, India, instruments, mother, Mughal, music, musicians, Old Delhi, Pakistan, photography, photojournalism, reportage, Shakeel Ahmad, Shankat Qureshi, tabla, travel, violin, Zeeshan Ahmad