It is said that when many people of Hyderabad prayed to their individual Gods and asked for help and guidance in an almost forgotten passion called Western Music, the Hyderabad Western Music Foundation was born.

It is also said that when the performers of Hyderabad, actors, dancers, musicians et al…prayed and said in one collective voice that “Give Us This Day Our Performance Space” Lamakaan was conceived and came as a blessing to the city of Hyderabad…and of course Secunderabad.

Almost from its inception, members of the Hyderabad Western Music Foundation found in Lamakaan a home, a welcome and a wonderful space. From Choir Singing to Music Appreciation…from Jazz journeys to Music based theatre, Lamakaan always came forward to host meetings, big and small. And did so every time with great enthusiasm.

So when Lamakaan celebrated its 4^th successful year of existence the members of HWMF definitely wanted to sing, with all their love and affection, a Happy Birthday song to Lamakaan and its wonderful team.

But then, HWMF cannot be HWMF without giving a twist to the song…without it adding its very own special flavor. So, on the 16^th the Lamakaan space was filled to the brim with musicians, friends, family and all things HWMF. And they participated in a bouquet of celebratory performances that were all designed to say very gratefully to Lamakaan…Happy Birthday…and wish you all the best for many more years to come.

The people streamed in…and knowing HWMF’s reputation for punctuality, they came in much before the appointed hour of seven. And they were not disappointed. Shakila’s announcements started by the clock. And the last stragglers who could find no chairs left to sit on, found places to sit anywhere they could…including climbing onto the compound wall of Lamakaan.

It was as usual, great to see that everything was in place and as soon as our very own Joe Coster, looking dapper in a black & white striped (T) shirt, finished with the introductory formalities, Chaitanya rippled, trickled and flowed into a soothing Yanni Medley. The solitary performer set the tone for the rest of the evening. Seamless transitions from one group to the other. And an effortless crossover from one number to the other.

Next up were Triveni, confidently belting out bass on her guitar, and Anupam, stoically disregarding his visual handicap and playing the keys to his tunes. Except that he needed a helping hand to get onto stage Anupam never allowed anyone to notice his blindness and what the duo created was nothing short of magic. By the time they presented their renditions of Autumn Leaves and All of Me the mood had truly set in and the pauses in the applause only reflected the non-willingness of the audience to believe that a number was over.

Joe, with his characteristic sense of humor then announced that the next two on stage were a unique combination. Of a senior and a veteran, and of a young, world beating voice. As Sarosh Master and Meghna Dundi took the stage there was a breathless gasp of awe. The calm, collected Master with his acoustic guitar, and the ‘voice-from-the-belly’ Meghna meandered through their three Pop Numbers - Whats Up by 4 Non Blondes, When You Were My Man a Bruno Mars adaptation - with the lovely Maria on Clarinet and All My Loving by The Beatles - and that started off an epidemic of audience sing-along.

It was time then for Joe Koster to get onto stage and behind the keyboard as the hugely talented Raphaelle with her expressive Clarinet knocked insistently at the doors of Weber’s Concerto No.1 with Joe elegantly orchestrating (allegro) a wonderful, interactive session. You could see from the faces of both the performers that playing tonight was a joy.

And then suddenly the texture of the stage changed. Suddenly we could see a lot of brass. And behind the trumpet was Jonathan, swaying with the clarinet was Maria, and pumping the air with his shiny saxophone was George who is also known as ‘the Hull’…with Joe donning his keyboard role of being the Captain of the Ship.

This ensemble acted as a welcome platform for the inimitable Shakila who bounced up the tempo with her unique renditions of They Can’t Take That Away From Me (G. Gerswin), I Get A Kick Out Of You (Cole Porter), My Funny Valentine (L.Hart) and Just Friends (J. Klenner).

At this stage of the evening the relation between performers and the audience was highlighted when after a couple of false starts the audience graciously allowed the performers to start afresh. A lot of love and laughter was in the air indeed.

Joe came back on stage again and announced that we were in for a surprise. Programs normally start with a prayer…and prayers have evolved into different shapes and tunes the world over. But the HWMF evening was going to end with a prayer he said…and what an innovation that turned out to be…as an unassuming Dorein Christian-Rapped into a mesmerizing Don’t Waste Your Life.

The evening ended with HWMF paying floral tribute to Lamakaan and that’s when you realized that the evening was very special. The audience just did not feel like leaving. Some of them managed to leave, only to form clusters just outside…no one wanted the evening to end. But they consoled themselves with the thought that even ‘Happy’ Birthdays had ‘Sad’ endings…and it was time to go home.

Go home and think of more programs due from the HWMF team and their message of music that implored parents and musicians alike not to get stuck in the comfort zone of guitars and keyboards but to venture into the rhapsody of wind blown brass…the clarinet, the trumpet and the amazing saxophone.

The end of the magical night. The end of a rappy prayer. And it was time to say AMEN…

…and once more, with feeling…Happy Birthday Lamakaan.