Dialopatey Ngalete is African in origin, Indian in spirit. So, when he sings
the Krishna kirtan, it is with the added flavour of American bluegrass and
jazz
When Congolese musician Dialopatey Ngalete is not studying Hindu scriptures in
Vrindavan, he is travelling around the world singing Krishna kirtan in Braj
bhasha and Sanskrit. His band of African-American musicians, called
Vrajabadhu, accompanies him with a line-up of classic bluegrass (a form of
American country music) instruments — banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar and
bass. Ngalete himself jazzes up the pieces with his saxophone, and gives to
the chant Hare Rama Hare Krishna, an unusual rhythmic tempo.
A well-known figure in Europe and Africa, Ngalete, 54, who goes by the name
Atey Sax, is now working on an album in Vrindavan, which will be released
later this year. “It will be an eclectic mix of Indian, western and
Afro-American music. We’re using Indian and western instruments with vocals in
Braj bhasha,” he explains. The album is still untitled. His music traces the
meeting point between bluegrass, jazz and Indian folk. “There are some common
grounds between traditional styles of music like rhythm and ragas. I explore
these commonalities,” he says.
Comments