KARACHI: The French and Russian versions of Alif Laila in the courtyard of Alliance Francaise de Karachi on Thursday lifted many a spirit as Sherazade et LavionRose enthralled the audience with vocals that tugged at the heart strings with jazz and world music and gypsy dance.

Russian-Algerian singer Sherazade backed by the ensemble of five Frenchmen sang as well as screamed but it was all music to the ears, quite strangely.

The French musicians said that they were travelling musicians who happened to discover the enchanting singer and dancer during one of their many travels.

And their guitars, keyboard, drums, accordion and ukulele put together couldn’t match the pitch of Sherazade’s voice. She sang in French, Russian, Arabic and even English. She could also speak a bit of Urdu as she told her audience in Urdu how happy she was to be in Karachi and be performing here. She said she hoped they would like her programme. And like they did ... why else would they be clapping along, tapping their feet and clicking their fingers?

A French song spoke about a beautiful stranger, the Russian song spoke of autumn, the Arabic and English songs urged all, especially the women, to get up and break into dance as Sherazade herself sat down on the floor and started swaying to the beat like a malang or qawwal, take you pick!

Published in Dawn, December 2nd, 2016