Ganavya - Aikyam: Onnu (2018)

Album is titled Aikyam: Onnu, as in Tamil, "onnu" is "one." Ganavya has been writing her own stories and songs, but in the traditions she has been trained, you learn the stories of those who came before you first. This is her first offering of the retelling of those stories; the hope is to continue this series, as she continues to weave these many stories into, as, her own.

The first track, "Ōm namō jį ādhyā," is an old Invocation asking the spirit older than creation to instill light and love into our hearts.

The second, "Nithākam," is Ganavya's version of Gershwin's "Summertime." Here's an early recording of her rendition of this song:

The third song, "Kilī," is Ganavya's translation of Johny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark."

Next is a combination of an abhang, "Runō junō" and Miles Davis's "Nardis," presented in a flamenco setting. "Runō junō" describes the sound of a bee (a "Bramarā") driving the poet Sant Gnyandev crazy (hence the onomatopoeic "runo juno"). The poet asks the bee to instead seek a more permanent happiness in the nectar of a flower, than buzz around their ears hopelessly. The poet likens this to one's idle mind, asking it instead to seek the permanent nectar of knowledge.

"Indo Blue" is a combination of Mongo Santamaría's "Afro Blue," alongside an abhang "Vittoo," by Kanhopatra. Kanhopatra's story is particularly poignant when placed near the narrative of "Dream of a land my soul is from / I hear a hand stroke on a drum / dancing with joy / elegant twirl."

"Black, Brown & Beige Are The Colors" is a song born from wedding Bharathiyar's poetry (Pārukulle Nalla Nādu) and an old Scottish / Appalachian folk song (Black is the Color). Stitched together here are two songs, both pleas of love rooted in the acceptance of one's inherited body. We go to the spectrum of Black, Brown, and Beige as a nod to the master musician, Duke Ellington.

"Vāzhkai, En Rose" is a translation of "La Vie En Rose," It wasn't meant to be on the album, instead meaning to be a soft private ode to Albert's then to-be-born son.

"Oru Paiyan" is a translation of eden ahbez's "Nature Boy," translated with help of Naresh Ramarajan.

"Anu Raniyā" is a beautiful abhang by Sant Tukaram, where one ponders: are we not as small as an atom in the face of the world? But then, would the largest of skies exist without atoms? Are we the atom, or the sky? Or both?

"Nido Del Aire" is a special work composed by one of Ganavya's most cherished teachers, Perico Sambeat. In Spanish, one is asked to protect the crystal child within us all. This recording has the honor of featuring Sambeat on saxophone.

"Anju Kadal Thāndi" is a translated version of the American folk song, "500 Miles." When expressed in Tamil, it tells the all-too-familiar tale of the immigrant: having traveled this far, how can we go back home empty-handed? "Lord I'm five hundred miles away from home," in Tamil, becomes "Lord, I have come; I have crossed five oceans and come."



Track List:
01. Invocation
02. Nithākam (based on Gershwin's "Summertime")
03. Kili (based on Johny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark")
04. Bramarā (based on Miles Davis's "Nardis")
05. Indo Blue (based on Mongo Santamaría's "Afro Blue")
06. Black, Brown, Beige (Are the Colors) (based on Scottish / Appalachian folk song "Black is the Color")
07. Vāzhkai, En Rose (translation of "La Vie En Rose")
08. Oru Paiyan (translation of "Nature Boy")
09. Anu Raniyā
10. Nido Del Aire
11. Anju Kadal Thāndi (translated version of the American folk song "500 Miles")
12. Break Stuff (Invocation Reprise)

Ganavya Doraiswamy (vocal)
Albert Sanz (piano)
Bandolero (percussion)
Borja Barrueta (drums, percussion)
Michael Olivera Garcia (drums and percussion)
Pablo Martín Caminero (bass, producer)
Perico Sambeat (saxophone)

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