Suzana Ansar with Khansar
Suzana Ansar with Khansar is the title of the debut band album of Suzana Ansar, alongside band members Syed Ansar, Imran Khan and Yamin Chowdhury. Released under the banner of record label G Series, for Eid ul Adha, November 2009, 'Suzana Ansar with Khansar' was in the top ten charts and featured on NTV (Bangladesh) programme 'Music Jamz'.
Khansar: Background
Syed Ansar and Imran Khan met at Forest School, East London. As teenagers they started to record and write music together, inspired by The Beatles and Oasis, they had a release with the album "Eclipse". Khansar is the mixture of both boys surnames 'Ansar' and 'Khan'
Syed's sister, Suzana, also at the same school, was trained in Indian classical music and throughout school would perform at Bengali events in London. An award winning child star locally, she was already a well known and a TV regular before joining forces with Khansar.
Yamin Chowdhury, nickname 'Shagor', is a trained tabla player. Learning Benares Gharana from guru Sanju Sahai, Yamin has accomplanied artists from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan as well as performing with fusion and world music. Coming from a famous MusicAL dynasty, relatives are Mahmudur Rahman Benu (Bangladesh freedom fighter '71 Mukti gaan fame) Khairul Anam Shakil, Nazim Chowdhury and Ali Jakker.
Joining forces with Suzana Ansar in early 2000, they performed as a duo, with harmonium and tabla for many years before joining forces with Syed and Imran to create the band Khansar and start working on the album in 2005/2006
Suzana Ansar with Khansar
What started off as an experiment or hobby, as the songs shaped up an album release seemed more possible. The band are popular amongst young British Bangladeshi's, as well as the older Bengali generations through Suzana's performances. Their distinctive musical sound bridges the cultures of both Bangladesh and England. Recordings were made in a make shift studio and vocal chamber in the bedroom and living room, 2005-2008 before shifting to a profesional studio in London and Dhaka.
Chosing G Series, Bangladesh, to reach a wider Bengali audience. The album is a fusion with music of a western feel, using diverse medlodies from the writings poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Bengali folk and Adhunik as well as self penned songs.
Track list
All vocals are by Suzana Ansar, besides duet with Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan on "Amar Jamindar" and "Ruler Snapper" written and sung by Syed Ansar. Additional vocals by Imran Khan, rhythm/tabla by Yamin Chowdhury, mixed and mastered by Khansar/ZooEl, mastered by ZooEl, and produced by KHANSAR.