Suzana Ansar with Khansar
Encyclopedia
Suzana Ansar with Khansar is the title of the debut band album of Suzana Ansar
, alongside band members Syed Ansar, Imran Khan and Yamin Chowdhury. Released under the banner of record label G Series, for Eid ul Adha, November 2009, 'Suzana Ansar with Khansar' was in the top ten charts and featured on NTV (Bangladesh)
programme 'Music Jamz'.
. As teenagers they started to record and write music together, inspired by The Beatles
and Oasis
, they had a release with the album "Eclipse". Khansar is the mixture of both boys surnames 'Ansar' and 'Khan'
Syed's sister, Suzana, also at the same school, was trained in Indian classical music
and throughout school would perform at Bengali events in London
. An award winning child star locally, she was already a well known and a TV regular before joining forces with Khansar.
Yamin Chowdhury, nickname 'Shagor', is a trained tabla
player. Learning Benares Gharana
from guru Sanju Sahai, Yamin has accomplanied artists from Bangladesh
, India
, Nepal
, Pakistan
as well as performing with fusion
and world music
. Coming from a famous musical dynasty, relatives are Mahmudur Rahman Benu (Bangladesh freedom fighter '71 Mukti gaan fame) Khairul Anam Shakil, Nazim Chowdhury and Ali Jakker.
Joining forces with Suzana Ansar in early 2000, they performed as a duo, with harmonium
and tabla for many years before joining forces with Syed and Imran to create the band Khansar and start working on the album in 2005/2006
's, as well as the older Bengali generations through Suzana's performances. Their distinctive musical sound bridges the cultures of both Bangladesh
and England
. Recordings were made in a make shift studio and vocal chamber in the bedroom and living room, 2005-2008 before shifting to a profesional studio in London
and Dhaka
.
Chosing G Series, Bangladesh, to reach a wider Bengali audience. The album is a fusion with music of a western feel, using diverse medlodies from the writings poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
, Bengali
folk
and Adhunik as well as self penned songs.
on "Amar Jamindar" and "Ruler Snapper" written and sung by Syed Ansar. Additional vocals by Imran Khan, rhythm/tabla by Yamin Chowdhury, mixed and mastered by Khansar/ZooEl, mastered by ZooEl, and produced by KHANSAR.
Suzana Ansar
Suzana Ansar is a British Bengali singer and actress.-Background:Ansar was born in Whipps Cross University Hospital, Leyton, East London, United Kingdom to British Bengali ex pat parents, UK community activist Syeda S Karim, and chartered accountant/businessman Mohamed Ansar Uddin...
, alongside band members Syed Ansar, Imran Khan and Yamin Chowdhury. Released under the banner of record label G Series, for Eid ul Adha, November 2009, 'Suzana Ansar with Khansar' was in the top ten charts and featured on NTV (Bangladesh)
NTV (Bangladesh)
NTV is a Bengali language satellite television channel based in Bangladesh. It started operation in 2003. It is one of the most popular Bengali TV channels in the country. In the anniversary of the channel, the founder expressed interest in creating NTV2 to satisfy the watchers further, however he...
programme 'Music Jamz'.
Khansar: Background
Syed Ansar and Imran Khan met at Forest School, East LondonEast End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
. As teenagers they started to record and write music together, inspired by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
, they had a release with the album "Eclipse". Khansar is the mixture of both boys surnames 'Ansar' and 'Khan'
Syed's sister, Suzana, also at the same school, was trained in Indian classical music
Indian classical music
The origins of Indian classical music can be found in the Vedas, which are the oldest scriptures in the Hindu tradition. Indian classical music has also been significantly influenced by, or syncretised with, Indian folk music and Persian music. The Samaveda, one of the four Vedas, describes music...
and throughout school would perform at Bengali events in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. An award winning child star locally, she was already a well known and a TV regular before joining forces with Khansar.
Yamin Chowdhury, nickname 'Shagor', is a trained tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player. Learning Benares Gharana
Benares gharana
Benares gharānā is one of the six most common styles of playing of the Indian tabla.-History:The Benares tabla gharana was developed a little over 200 years ago by Pandit Ram Sahai . Ram Sahai began studying the tabla with his father from the age of five. At the age of nine, he moved to Lucknow to...
from guru Sanju Sahai, Yamin has accomplanied artists from Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
as well as performing with fusion
Fusion (music)
A fusion genre is music that combines two or more styles. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm, i a sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided...
and world music
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
. Coming from a famous musical dynasty, relatives are Mahmudur Rahman Benu (Bangladesh freedom fighter '71 Mukti gaan fame) Khairul Anam Shakil, Nazim Chowdhury and Ali Jakker.
Joining forces with Suzana Ansar in early 2000, they performed as a duo, with harmonium
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
and tabla for many years before joining forces with Syed and Imran to create the band Khansar and start working on the album in 2005/2006
Suzana Ansar with Khansar
What started off as an experiment or hobby, as the songs shaped up an album release seemed more possible. The band are popular amongst young British BangladeshiBritish Bangladeshi
A British Bangladeshi is a person of Bangladeshi origin who resides in the United Kingdom having emigrated to the UK and attained citizenship through naturalisation or whose parents did so; they are also known as British Bengalis...
's, as well as the older Bengali generations through Suzana's performances. Their distinctive musical sound bridges the cultures of both Bangladesh
Culture of Bangladesh
Bangladesh has a long history in its culture. The land, the rivers, and the lives of the common people formed a rich heritage with marked differences from neighbouring regions. It has evolved over the centuries and encompasses the cultural diversity of several social groups of Bangladesh...
and England
Culture of England
The culture of England refers to the idiosyncratic cultural norms of England and the English people. Because of England's dominant position within the United Kingdom in terms of population, English culture is often difficult to differentiate from the culture of the United Kingdom as a whole...
. Recordings were made in a make shift studio and vocal chamber in the bedroom and living room, 2005-2008 before shifting to a profesional studio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
.
Chosing G Series, Bangladesh, to reach a wider Bengali audience. The album is a fusion with music of a western feel, using diverse medlodies from the writings poet Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam
Kazi Nazrul Islam , sobriquet Bidrohi Kobi, was a Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works espousing intense spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. His poetry and nationalist activism earned him the popular title of Bidrohi Kobi...
, Bengali
Music of Bengal
The music of Bengal, also referred to as Bangla music, comprises a long tradition of religious and secular song-writing over a period of almost a millennium...
folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and Adhunik as well as self penned songs.
Track list
All vocals are by Suzana Ansar, besides duet with Ustad Shafqat Ali KhanShafqat Ali Khan
Shafqat Ali Khan is a Ghazal singer.The youngest son of Salamat Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan is a master of the Ghazal tradition of Indian classical music...
on "Amar Jamindar" and "Ruler Snapper" written and sung by Syed Ansar. Additional vocals by Imran Khan, rhythm/tabla by Yamin Chowdhury, mixed and mastered by Khansar/ZooEl, mastered by ZooEl, and produced by KHANSAR.
External links
- http://www.suzanaansar.com/
- http://www.mybanglaspace.com/forums/display_topic/id_5468/Suzana-Ansar-with-Khansar/