The wedding season is at hand. Jedi Music, a front runner in discovering local talent, brings out 4 new titles this season. The CDs come packaged in simple cardboard inlays that are very eye catching, well designed, very tempting, just like their music. Priced at an affordable Rs. 100 each, the collection consists of medleys, mid – tempo songs to evergreen classics.

There are many who search for good E I music. Here are three EI super specials that you just cannot miss out, the last CD for that beach picnic.

‘Me Vasaikar Va Mumbaiikar’ – Vol 1 Track Onehas 32 tracks(37 minutes)in a medleythatspeak about East Indian villages, the sea and swaying palms trees. It also depicts the new and the old generations of EIs, the traditions, dances, cultures and dressing of the community and the lives of EI people. Done in impeccable East Indian Marathi, complete with traditional dholak, trumpet, saxophone, ghumat and tabla and a few western instruments, all this is backed by well timed vocals from some talented folk from Vasai and surrounding E I areas. The traditional medley is spiced up to a crescendo making you leave your seat and wave your hand in the air, frolicking to the pulsating beats and mischievous lyrics. The favorites include ‘Avtar des’, Ya gharavari’, ‘Sakal che para’ and ‘Yo tanga kanacha’ and much more. The mood on the album is one of fun and laughter.

Track two is Dance Mix and is a 14 minute English – Hindi - Konkani, medley full of party / wedding masala songs which is sure to find a few takers. Lastly we have Track three that features a Non – Stop Special Band that plays EI songs in an instrumental brass set up. You can join in with your vocals if you know the songs.

‘Me Vasaikar Va Mumbaiikar’ – Vol 2 has medleys of East Indian songs performed in pure E I Marathi accompanied right through with the lively beats of traditional instruments. Excellent lyrics, most of the time downright naughty and laced with E I flavor (read masala). Don’t miss the whistle now and then and the cock crowing. Masala music all the way. Music before the wedding, at the wedding or any family function. Take your pick from two great masala mixes done in medley style for that nonstop dancing. Some of the memorable and well known songs include ‘Gori Gori Paan’, Mary Tujhe Kes’, ‘Sakal Che Para’, ‘Girlan Sankli’, ‘Nakwa Koli’ and a host of others. This album is surely the better of the two albums

Singers on both the albums include Alex Collaco, Norman D’souza, Anthony Coutto, Nisha, Bhayander, Flavia Dambri, Robin Fargoj, Rajesh D’souza, Ajay D’cruz, Melvin Dambre, Dennis Barsoj, Prakash Collaco, Romeo Sirso, Lucas Pereira, Sylvia Ferreira, Lynette Dalmet, Sushila Collaco, Nephy Pradhan, and have to be given full marks to bring out such music in a neat and overwhelming way. They excel on the album and put you in a dancing mood from the very first song.

‘Ami Kinayanchi Log’ has three non – stop medleys and features local folk songsfrom Dahanu and Ratnagiri done inimpeccable non – stop dance masala with traditional instruments. Track 4 is once again a brass band set with EI folk tunes set to a big band.

All three albums are bound to keep your feet moving and dancing all the way. A good pick for EIs or anyone who loves traditional folk music. The music and the lyrics are vibrant and forceful from the word go.

51 Pop Hits Plus

51 evergreen Party and Picnic songs to put anyone in a mood for dancing. These songs will put you in a nostalgic mood, and though they are not original versions, they do make a good impact. Tracks like ‘Never on a Sunday’, ‘Lovely bunch of Coconuts’, the magnificent ‘Isle of Capri’, ’My Grandfather’s clock’, Ten Guitars’, the Jim Reeves old favorites ‘Bimbo’ and ‘But you love me Daddy’, to 60s glory ‘In the shade of an old apple tree’ or ‘70s super hit ‘Where’s your mama gone’ and Harry Belafonte’s unforgettable ‘Jamaican Farewell’, it’s a recap of old favorites.

Surely these are golden oldies that never die, and if you just have them on LP record, here’s cover versions of the same songs sung by local youth who give a new feel to the music. Other favorites like ‘Marianne’, ‘Pack up your troubles’, ‘Tom Dooley’, the more hymnal based ‘We shall not be moved’, ‘Beautiful brown eyes’, the repetitive ‘Amku Malum Hai’, ‘When Johnny comes marching home’, ‘He’s a jolly good fellow’ and the finale for the party ‘Show me the way to go home’ make you want to join in the singing.

There’s also ‘Congratulations’, ‘The Anniversary Waltz’, ‘Happy Birthday’ and lots more for special occasions.

 -- Reviewed By Verus Ferreira