Jayshree Bala Rajamani in collaboration
With Jazz ensemble Natraj presents
Putra Poutra Bhavathu: To be blessed with child
September 25, 2010 Lexington, MA

August 26, 2010

Jayshree Bala Rajamani, Indian classical dancer and adoptive mother of two, and Natraj, world jazz band, present a union of dance and music celebrating the blessing of adoption.

PUTRA POUTRA BHAVATHU: TO BE BLESSED WITH CHILD is a fund-raiser for Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kedra, Pune, India, which is dedicated to the care and placement of orphans.

Date: Saturday, September 25, 2010
Venue: The National Heritage Museum, 33 Marrett Rd., Lexington, MA 02421
Time: The show begins at 6:30pm.

Tickets are $15 (general admission), $25 (reserved), $50 (donor).
For tickets and information, call 781-729-9170 or visit www.sulekha.com/ticketsV3/buytickets.aspx?cid=593765Natraj collaborates with Indian classical dancer Jayshree Bala Rajamani, for the visual-aural East-meets-West fusion, Putra Poutra Bhavathu: To be Blessed with Child. This show celebrates and supports the blessing of adoption. The core piece depicts the endearing traditional Indian story of Yashoda with her adopted child, Lord Krishna.

Natraj features saxophonist Phil Scarff, violist Mat Maneri, bassist Mike Rivard, tabla and multi-percussion master Jerry Leake, and drummer Bertram Lehmann.

"Natraj... contemplative raga improvisation, high-energy African and Indian based grooves, complex odd meters and polyrhythms, and edgy contemporary jazz... blended together beautifully while showcasing the brilliance of each artist," raves Lokvani.com. Natraj has delighted listeners in concert halls and festivals throughout the US, Canada, India, and Africa since 1987. Recent appearances include the Berklee Percussion Festival, where Natraj performed with Indian percussion wizard Trichy Sankaran. "True fusion of jazz and world musics... Compelling blend of Indian, African, and Jazz musics... Excellent... It all works quite beautifully," attests Cadence.

Jayshree Bala Rajamani was initiated into the art of classical Indian dance by her mother. She creates perfect fusion between body movement and music in her choreographies and has been lauded for her grace and lightning footwork. Jayshree is a Lexington, MA, based dancer and is a student of Guru K.J. Govindarajan. She came to the US in 1995, post marriage. She has been performing and teaching in the area, and has also been taking her art form to local schools and other educational institutions to share the beauty and joy of her dance. Her awards include the title, Natyamani conferred by the Indian Cultural Society, New Delhi, and the Sahitya Kala Parishad award for excellence in dance. "Breathtaking footwork." - Indian Express, New Delhi. "Impressive... with a flair for Abhinaya (expression)... sensitively visualized." - The Hindu.

Info: jayshree.rajamani@gmail.com

Contact: Phil Scarff, (781) 729-9170, philscarff@natrajmusic.com