But this time, it was not just those present who experienced the warmth of music but also those at Karunashraya, which provides hospice care to cancer patients.

Sitarist Niladri Kumar, composer and keyboard player Louis Banks, and drummer Sivamani’s music for cancer care was a treat that the Bangalore’s large-hearted surely deserved.

Jazz, classical, folk, contemporary ... there was something for everyone at the concert. Be it Sivamani’s knack to innovate and transform everyday objects, be it a suitcase or a water container into percussion instruments and his ability to set the drum on fires, or Kumar being at ease with both classical and contemporary music, supported by Banks on the keyboard, the band’s performance made the evening a memorable one.  

Of the four pieces that the band played, one was inspired by and dedicated to Karunashraya and the other was dedicated to Bangalore’s traffic, that had delayed their performance. From ‘Top Gun’ theme to ‘Raghupathi Raghava Rajaram’, the energy and impact of their music was not lost on the listeners. The lighting only added to the magical effect created by the trio.

 Kumar’s joke on how their first two pieces (which were a hit with the audience) were all about sound check and Sivamani’s challenge that required the audience to match their  claps with that of his fast drum beats further endeared them to the crowd.

Music is meant to touch the soul of the listeners and the charismatic performers through their recital had done just that, age no bar. All in all ‘Asia Electrik’s’ music was a harmony between tradition and modern, the kind that was in sync with the global audience who were present.