Mondavi Arts presents Shakti; Bill Frisell opens with a solo set!
Jackson Hall, The Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts
523 Mrak Hall Dr, Davis, CA 95616 USA
7:30 PM, Friday, September 8, 2023

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[7:35 PM] {lights down, announcements and introduction by Gary Vercelli, Bill out, brief comments}

1. [7:40 PM] ? (descending chord riff) »
2. [7:46 PM] Hard Times »
3. [7:51 PM] Crepuscule with Nellie »
4. [7:57 PM] Blues From Before »
5. [7:59 PM] Throughout
6. [8:08 PM] Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
7. [8:13 PM] You Only Live Twice
   [8:22 PM] {set ends}

• Bill Frisell: guitar.

[8:42 PM] {lights down; band out without introduction (no SM); hello from JM; tuning}

1. [8:45 PM] 5 in the Morning, 6 in the Afternoon
   [8:53 PM] {JM talk; band introduction; add SM}
2. [8:57 PM] Giriraj Sudha
   [9:15 PM] {JM mumble; ZH talk; tuning}
3. [9:16 PM] Shrini's Dream
   [9:29 PM] {ZH talk & back announcement of tune title}
4. [9:30 PM] Sono Mama
   [9:35 PM] {ZH: the next tune is our odd version of a North Indian thumri}
5. [9:36 PM] Sakhi
   [9:41 PM] {ZH lauds SM}
6. [9:41 PM] Kiki
   [9:50 PM] {ZH lauds JM & then thanks the crew and house staff}
7. [9:52 PM] Lotus Feet
8. [10:00 PM] Ma No Pa
9. [10:11 PM] You Know, You Know
10. [10:20 PM] Bending the Rules
    [10:29 PM] {set ends; hamming it up at the front of the stage}
    [10:32 PM] {all off for a minute}
    
    Encore
    [10:34 PM] {ZH: You guys have nothing better to do?}
11. [10:34 PM] La Danse du Bonheur
    [10:40 PM] {final applause} [10:42 PM] {show ends}

Shakti

• Zakir Hussain: tabla, percussion, vox;
• Shankar Mahadevan: vox;
• John McLaughlin: guitar;
• Ganesh Rajagopalan: carnatic violin;
• Chella S. Ganesh AKA V. Selvaganesh AKA Selvaganesh Vinayakram: kanjira, ghatam. ## Notes

It was well worth the long haul to Davis to see tonight's show. Traffic getting there wasn't too much of a mess, and we enjoyed a fine meal in the bar at Sophia’s Thai Kitchen (thanks Mark!).

Although the audience was wildly enthusiastic, they were also really good listeners, which really helped during Bill Frisell's solo opening set. It's always a treat to be part of a crowd of like-minded souls! I was disappointed that I couldn't identify more of Bill's tunes, but the way that he manages to unwind things, makes it hard to detect the melodic head sometimes. Better luck next time, right?

Set break was a nice chance to visit with friends – it's serendipitous to look across the room and notice a pal that you haven't seen in awhile walking towards you!

The Shakti set was bittersweet for me. Sad to sit there and think of the players now absent from the stage, and joyful in the spirited expression of the current crew. I remember being really sad to read that John McLaughlin had decided to retire due to arthritis in his hands, and I'm exceedingly grateful that he's found a way to performing for at least this tour.

Bill Milkowski published a nice tour wrap-up article featuring input from many of the openers. You can read that via the Shakti 50 website.

Big thanks to Ting for the photo gallery!

Whoa! This section is incomplete for now, sorry!

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2023 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2023 event list! ☸ On to the next event!