ওয়াশিংটন বাংলা রেডিও Washington Bangla Radio

Mar 3, 2010 (Washington Bangla Radio) Five Little Indians(FLI) is a 5-piece rock outfit featuring two vocalists based in Kolkata (Calcutta), India.

Over the past couple of years, FLI have drawn up a delightful catalogue of what sounds like modern rock hit music. The five-track sampler available for listening online echoes Toad The Wet Sprocket, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Switchfoot. The band features two vocalists, Neel Adhikari and Sayak Banerjee each bringing a unique sound to the table. It’s not just strong harmonies – FLI also add in Indian classical vocals, courtesy Bannerjee which seem to work on few tracks and sound slightly forced on some. The very able rhythm section (Arko Das – drums, Sanket Bhattacharya – bass) holds down a tight groove, while also adding just the right flavour on tracks like the groovy ‘Screaming At The Sun’ and the hard-rocking ‘Go Back In Time’. They also get sensitive on the moody, beautiful ‘You Make My World Turn To Lead’. Guitarist Allan Ao perfectly complements Adhikari’s acoustic strumming with his intelligent parts and occasional rock god moments.

Akon - Aliaune Badara Akon Thiam - an acclaimed Grammy nominated US Singer with roots in Senegal, has featured the mild and mellow A R Rahman in a music video spreading like wildfire via You Tube.

In the music video of the song "BEAUTIFUL", A R Rahman makes a short appearance. The song BEAUTIFUL is by AKON, Kardinal Offishall and Colby O'Donis.

The song Beautiful is from the album FREEDOM available for MP3 Download HERE »

Watch the music video of the song BEAUTIFUL via Yahoo Music free online. Per the yahoo post, the video is © 2009 Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Records.

Jaya has created a storm with her debut single “DJ Do It Again” (MP3 download release), and has thus become the first Indo-British female to be signed by a major label.

Releasing on March eight by “All Around The World/Universal Music”, it is proving to be the first club smash of 2010 with its dance floor-friendly disco beats and “feel good” quality, which is combination of pop, urban elements, and dance. Jaya’s songs combine R&B, electro pop, Pop, and Hip Hop. She has been described as “charming, articulate, determined, creative, confident, larger-than-life, sexy, next Rihanna, and having charismatic & clear voice. Daughter of a Hindu priest (who is said to be the catalyst for her music involvement), she is reportedly collaborating with producers Jonas Jeberg, Parker & James, and Hawkeye.

Grammy winner American maverick cellist and composer David Darling (Buy CD / Download MP3 Online) plans to record a Hindu-themed album.

Titled “Everything Is Heart Breaking”, Darling reportedly wants to record this solo CD with meditation drones and singing in raga scales in collaboration with German producer Manfried Eicher of ECM Records and keyboardist Kit Walker. He has recorded over 20 albums and his “A Prayer for Compassion” won the prestigious Grammy last month.

Congratulating David Darling on winning Grammy, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, called for introduction of “kirtan” as new field of awards at Grammys next year. Outside India, “kirtan” was attracting large audiences in USA, Canada, United Kingdom, and many other countries of the world, resulting in various new albums and creation of star “kirtan” artists. It was the time Grammys organizer National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of USA opened its eyes to the sentiments of people, Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, added.

Indiana born Darling, 68, who now lives in Goshen (Connecticut), dabbled in various styles, including jazz, African, classical, Brazilian, and Indian music. He has written and performed in over a dozen movies, including MTV nominated “Heat” (Michael Mann). His other albums include “8-String Religion”.

Gitanjali by Bratati Bandopadhyay and Prattyush Bandopadhyay is an album with recitation from Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali (buy Tagore's Gitanjali Book Online) recited by Bratati Banerjee with background music designed by Pratyush Banerjee on the Sarod. Pratyush Banerjee is a talented disciple of Pt Buddhadev Dasgupta.

The album is released by Saregama (erstwhile HMV) to mark 100 years from the publication of Gitanjali. Saregama has recently started doing a good job of making their releases available for MP3 download. Listen to free samples and download MP3 recitation by Bratati Banerjee online »

Also check out Prattysh Banerjee's Indian Classical Instrumental Sarod performances of Raga Gujri Todi and Jaijaiwanti MP3 downloads »

Watch Prattyush Banerjee performing Live in Toronto in 2008: