Music Launch of 'The Mumbai EP' CD

Article Updated 03 July, 2005 05:33:36 AM IST

Music Launch of 'The Mumbai EP' CD

The Belmont Club in Fall River, Massachusetts - USA was the happening place to be on Saturday June 25th and Bollyvista was there! The official launching of Don Hammontree's 'The Mumbai EP' CD commenced at 9 PM with a celebration of acoustic music between two very creative and talented musicians Don Hammontree and Angelo Marinosci Jr. Besides some selections from his two previous CDs ('This' (1999) and 'Mount Hope Days' (2003)), Don also performed all the songs from his 'The Mumbai EP' CD. His favorites are The Queen's Necklace (the nickname for Marine Drive in Mumbai, one of the city's most popular seaside promenades, pictured on the front cover of Hammontree's CD) and the ones he wrote for Bollywood actresses Juhi Chawla (titled Juhi Chawla) and Karisma Kapoor (titled Karisma Comes To Lowell).

The other three songs on the CD are Ankle Chains (originally recorded by Don and his band Six Feet Over), No Turning Back (a haunting piano instrumental) and Subterranean Homesick Indian (an awesome guitar instrumental). "'The Mumbai EP' is a pretty solid work. I just hope everyone else thinks so." Don laughs. "Especially Juhi and Karisma." Don's wife Rachel (whose favorite Bollywood actor is Aamir Khan) and daughter Liliana were there to give their support and encourage the special man in their lives as they sat in the closest seats to him during his performance.

Don has a strong voice, which he can easily vary in pitch and power. To quote the artist from his Juhi Chawla lyrics, "I am hardly Shah Rukh Khan but I can play guitar in ways you won't believe." And can he ever play the guitar! We watched in amazement as his fingers flew across the strings. The crowd went wild and joined in, clapping their hands and singing to the songs they knew while others even got up to dance. Speaking of Shah Rukh, now that he has begun his new passion for guitar playing, maybe the two of them can get together for a jam session in the future.

Believe it or not, there was even a game of Bollywood/India Trivia! Questions ranged from the fairly easy to the somewhat difficult and prizes, which were donated by the local (and not-so-local) Indian/non-Indian vendors were given out accordingly. T-Shirts and posters from Bollyvista, Indian chai, tea cup and saucer set, handmade Indian stationary, crocheted coaster and bookmark, 'Rhythms of India' CD, 'Yes Boss', and 'Dil To Pagal Hai' DVDs from Ana & Abigail Gagney at Dark Horse Adaptations, Juhi Chawla and Karisma Kapoor CD clocks, homemade incense sticks, Shah Rukh Khan Posters and a Bollywood Necklace from Sandy Edwards and Ash at Bollywood International Fan Shop on EBAY, a $30 Gift Certificate from Sanjiv Dhar at Kabob & Curry Restaurant, a sterling silver bracelet, nag champ incense and English breakfast tea from Tina Vaughn at Tara's Boutique, 'The Ashram A Novel' by and from Sattar Memon, a bottle of Mangosteen Juice from David Ott at The Center for Acupuncture and Holistic Nursing and a jute wine bag from Jagdish Sachdev at Spectrum India Shop. You can find the site information for each vendor, along with the lyrics to the Juhi and Karisma songs on our Shah Rukh Khan Website at http://srk.bollyvista.com

Details of 'The Mumbai EP' album
Produced by Don Hammontree, Johnny Barsana, Kim Koppel and Mike Helenthal
Engineered by Steve Isaac
Cover Photography by Steve Caudill
Label: CD Baby

Musicians:
Don Hammontree - vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, all lyrics and music
Johnny Barsana - drum programming
Kim Koppel - vocals on Ankle Chains, back vocals on Juhi Chawla
Mike Helenthal - drums, percussion on Ankle Chains, Juhi Chawla
Tim Hort - bass on Ankle Chains
Uma Karia - backing vocals on Juhi Chawla
Gopal Shah - tabla on Juhi Chawla, Ankle Chains
Prashant Shah - keyboards on Juhi Chawla

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