APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART 4333 E SILVER SPRINGS BLVD., OCALA
SHARON L. MORSE CONT.
352 2914455 APPLETONMUSEUM.ORG
TAJ EXPRESS, THE BOLLYWOOD MUSICAL
SOULBASE BAND
MARCH 2, 7PM
Tickets: $25-$85
FEBRUARY 2, 5-8PM
Tickets: Free for Appleton members, $10 for non-members
heavyweights like Oscarwinning composer AR Rahman, SalimSulaiman Merchant and Monty Sharma to lend their impressive talents.
ant to get all dressed up and have somewhere to go? Try taking in the performance of SoulBase Band at the Appleton Museum of Art’s After Hours Concert Series. For a sophisticated midweek escape that’s close to home, the smooth improvisations of this Orlando-based musical group generate enough mellow groove to downshift from your day. Its members call upon their musical roots from major cities, including Chicago, New York, New Orleans, Miami and Orlando. From there, the band borrows from rhythm and blues, funk, jazz, blues, rock, reggae, hip hop and even gospel. And when that last amplifier is plugged in, these varied elements commingle for a fun, unexpected and upbeat show. SoulBase Band first came together in February 2015, when Cofounder and Keyboardist Robert Bradley needed a band at an open mic event. Since then, the group has been performing and cultivating their characteristic sound. Says Co-founder and Vocalist Tyla Harrington, “Every song we cover, we make sure to make it our own. You will barely hear the same song twice. We like to remix music a lot to make it sound fresh and new.” A particular favorite is the finale, an old-school medley of classic covers such as “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan, “Who’s That Lady” by the Isley Brothers, “Portuguese Love” by Teena Marie, “Benny and the Jets” by Elton John, plus tunes by Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Toto and more.
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ften a show is described as offering “something for everyone.” In the case of Taj Express, the Bollywood Musical, the production makes a grand Bollywood spectacle of itself to appeal to every member of its audience. Given that Indian Bollywood films have entertained billions for generations, legendary Bollywood Producers/Directors/ Choreographers Vaibhavi and Shruti Merchant have undertaken the task of bringing this highly elaborate and widely entertaining storytelling style to the stage. A far cry from demure or understated, the entire show ratchets each scene to the next level by ensuring every inch of its presentation bursts with film footage; bright, intricate costumes; high-energy dance numbers and infectious song. Taj Express’ storyline is tagged as a “cinematic journey through Indian culture.” To do so, the Merchants capture this collision of beautiful, classical traditions with the brash attitude of modern Indian pop. And when it comes to engineering the show’s catchy score, Taj Express calls upon musical
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Words like “dazzling,” “vibrant” and “enchanting” are used to describe the musical. Or more precisely, expect “120 minutes of swirling colors, sparkle, shimmer and electrifying energy.” Then factor in the budding romance, which inevitably culminates into a full-blown, joyful wedding extravaganza. Taj Express is recognized as “the first original Indian musical to have successfully completed five years of international touring.” And Director Shruti Merchant proudly expands on that distinction, saying, “Taj Express is the first ever Bollywood musical produced, directed and choreographed by an Indian company and is not an interpretation of India through a foreigner’s eye.” When pressed to quietly reveal her favorite part of the show, she recommends sticking around for the whopping, crowdpleasing finale. Says Shruti: “As an audience member watching the show, what I enjoy the most is the energy of the entire cast enabling the audience to join them in the end.”
THE SHOW’S PROMISE:
Photo by Allison GIles
Taj photos courtesy of Columbia Artists Management Inc.
THE SHOW’S PROMISE:
With SoulBase Band, you won’t hear run-of-themill radio songs but an engaging performance for diverse musical tastes. Harrington also points out the crowd’s interaction with the group. “We like to do an improv part in the show where we let guests choose a topic, and we make up a song on the spot,” she says. Adding to the evening’s ambiance, the Appleton Museum presents special Ocala Art Group displays, tasty Mojo Grill food samples and a cash bar. Doors open at 5pm, and the music begins at 5:30pm.