Popular Punjabi songs of Lahore, Pakistan as played on Anglo Concertina

[Jody Kruskal]

Last night I played concertina with my Punjabi neighbor Abdul and his friends including the famous Salamat Ali & Azra Riaz. Look ‘em up on google. They are the real deal. Actual celebrities with numerous recordings available.

 

They sing songs from Lahore, Pakistan and the Indian Bollywood classics and accompany themselves on harmonium and tabla. There were a dozen of us in Abdul’s music garage, just across from my back door, singing and clapping along to the music after our delicious Pakistani feast of nan, chicken spinach and spicy dal and gulab jamun. BTW, we ate with our fingers, soaking up the juices with nan and we left our shoes at the door.

 

My neighbor Abdul and his music loving friends meet most Friday evenings for dinner and Ghazals, a Pakistani potluck and sing song. Mostly I just listen, but tonight I brought along my Ab/Eb in order to play with them in Rag Khamaj in the key of black 2 (Mixolydian in Eb).

 

Salamat Ali Kahan himself insisted that I play along and we had a great time. He gave me a short lesson in vocal technique and it could have gone on longer for all of me, but after all... it was a party and we had to cut the lesson short. I have much to learn about this rich musical tradition. Such fun, trying to follow the tempo and time changes of the tabla player! My Pakistani friends were super encouraging and welcoming. Concertina is not a traditional instrument for this genre, but everyone agreed that it sounds so good.

 

Brooklyn is a fine multi-cultural place to live and I am a a new convert to the popular songs of Lahore.

 

[David Barnert]

Sounds like fun. Is there a link to a recording?

 

4 hours ago, Jody Kruskal said:

BTW, we ate with our fingers, soaking up the juices with nan and we left our shoes at the door.

 

I hope you washed your hands before picking up the concertina. 😉