A casual conversation about music over lunch led to an impromptu fusion gig minutes before the thunderous noise of fighter jets took over the clear skies of Yelahanka Air Force Station on Thursday.
Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra of the Indian Air Force and The Band of Pacific of the United States Air Force, which had been performing at the aero show separately since Wednesday, came together, without a prior practice, to create fusion music. “It was impromptu and it was wonderful. We had played separately since yesterday, and after lunch today we played together. We sat down at lunch and discussed how to come together and coordinate logistics,” said Master Sergeant Christin Foley of The Band of Pacific, of her interaction with Flying Officer L.S. Rupachandra, who is in charge of the Air Warriors based in Jalahalli. “We shared our experience with military and military music. We are amazed by their talent with (Indian) instruments that are beyond our skills.”
As the gig progressed on stage, Airman Cliff Wright on bass guitar and Staff Sergeant Shawn Hanlon on the keyboard joined in with solo performances.
On their part, the Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra played ‘In the mood’, a jazz number, Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything I do’, and Eric Clapton’s ‘Wonderful tonight’, which came in for praise from the Americans.
Still more surprising for the Americans, who were in India for the first time, were the requests for numbers started coming in from the audience. “We did play these requests, which included Country Roads (of John Denver). It was a great feeling and it was really wonderful to see people singing along with us,” said Master Sergeant Christin Foley.