Coke Studio Season 3 – Episode 1 ‘Reason’ (Pictures)

All images are property of Coke Studio and are clicked by Kohi Marri

Catch all hot stuff of Coke Studio Season 3

(Pakistan, 31 May 2010) With the third season of the Coke Studio journey formally announced on 14 May at a press conference, the much-awaited first episode ‘Reason’ will now be airing on 06 June. The brand new season once again takes the audience to the heart of the live recording studio to witness unique performances — each attempting to reflect the rich musical heritage of Pakistan. The central theme this year is the process of creation and hence the first episode revolves around the rationale for creation. That the reason (or the driving force) has range, is taken into account as well: it can be ambition, an unrequited desire, devotion to a higher form and can be subliminal or overt.

‘Reason’ features a total of five performances: three Sufic pieces, each rendered in a different style, and two melodious pop-funk numbers. Tune in to witness Arieb Azhar’s rendition of ‘Na Raindee Hai‘, a twelfth century kalam penned by mystic Baba Bulleh Shah; the iconic Abida Parveen presenting a kalam by Hazrat Baidam Shah Warsi titled ‘Ramooz-e-Ishq’; the folk-meet-funk collaboration between Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi for an equally eclectic Sufic track ‘Alif Allah Chambay Di Booty’; Pakistan’s pioneering rockers Karavan joined by houseband members Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique, Javed Iqbal and Jaffer Ali Zaidi to jazz up the melodious ‘Yaadein’; and finally Zeb & Haniya performing ‘Bibi Sanam Janem’, a popular folk ballad in Dari.

The first episode also marks the return of the house band with Asad Ahmed on guitar, Babar Ali Khanna on dholak, Jaffer Ali Zaidi on keyboard, Javed Iqbal on violin, Kamran ‘Mannu’ Zafar on bass, Louis ‘Gumby’ Pinto on drums, Omran ‘Momo’ Shafique on guitar, Saba Shabbir on backing vocals and Zulfiq ‘Shazee’ Ahmed Khan on multi-percussions. Joining the house band this season are three new talents: Sanam Saeed and Zoe Viccaji as backing vocalists and Sikander Mufti on multi-percussions. The guest musician featured in the first episode is rubab virtuoso Sadiq Sameer.

So come and be a part of Coke Studio 2010 as it debuts on 06 June 2010, on television channels, radio stations and online, across Pakistan, every fortnight, with three repeats for every show! In the meantime, also log on to http://www.cokestudio.com.pk for exclusive behind-the-scenes web blogs, a sneak peek into the collaborative world of Coke Studio and an interactive build-your-own merchandise kit.

[via]