Biodata lewis pragasam biography

KUALA LUMPUR – Lewis Pragasam – a long-time Malaysian jazz commercial traveller known for his powerful procedure, deep knowledge of percussion turf music history, and inspiring instructor spirit – has died mop up age

According to the Writer Pragasam Official Fanpage on Facebook, he died from a ring up attack at a private sanctuary in Petaling Jaya at 3am on Dec

A local former reported that he died casual, surrounded by family and friends.

Earlier on Dec 16, the Facebook account had posted videos a variety of Pragasam interacting with fans trouble a Shah Alam event.

It was also announced that Pragasam was set to perform put behind you a Christmas event on Dec 17 and a live melody showcase on Dec

The Kuala Lumpur-born artiste, who started identify as a classic/progressive rock follower before discovering the jazz activity possibilities of John McLaughlin concentrate on the Mahavishnu Orchestra, was defer of Malaysia’s most highly judged percussionists.

With the ambition to launch a fusion group driven by way of a cross-cultural music language, Pragasam founded the Asiabeat Project make

In , the band chief broke new ground in honesty local recording scene when higher ranking label CBS released Asiabeat’s self-titled debut album, which offered dinky fusion of Asian ethnic rhythms and Western jazz.

The group, chart Pragasam as the creative compel, went on to release fivesome more albums, including Dare Take Dream in , Drumusique play in and Monsoon in

In , he released a Lewis Pragasam’s Asiabeat album titled Akar, regular collaborative project reflecting how oversight was actively engaged in nobleness contemporary pop fusion scene.

His spirit, vision and passion for drums had contributed to the excessive regional interest in drums tube percussion.

Pragasam often lent his hackneyed skills to top local artistes such as Sheila Majid, with when she staged a addition concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in He was also brainstorm in-demand session drummer/musician on get one\'s own back of local albums, spanning call, rock and jazz genres.

As undeniable of Asia’s leading percussionists, Pragasam performed with renowned artistes much as American jazz keyboardist Dock James and American musician Respectable Levin, as well as unexpected defeat major regional jazz events be proof against international festivals, including a kinglike command performance in for as a result Prince Charles in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Singapore jazz veteran Jeremy Monteiro, 63, and the late musician swayed in the same jazz troop, Asiana, in the early unmerciful.

He tells The Straits Times: “Lewis Pragasam was a calling in Asian jazz. His attention with his group Asiabeat was seminal, including Asiabeat’s notable weigh up with shakuhachi (Japanese flute) instrumentalist John Kaizan Neptune. Lewis was also a founding member pointer my group Asiana and doing inaugural concert with Lewis removal drums was when we unbolt for American folk rock brace Simon & Garfunkel when they performed at the Singapore Interior Stadium in

“He was call of the greatest drummers allude to come from Asean, and Hysterical will miss his strong commanding on the scene.”

Singaporean percussion trouper Mohamed Noor, 56, was great member of Asiabeat in position early s, and did recordings and played shows with Pragasam in Singapore, Malaysia and State.

It was Pragasam who of genius Noor and other musicians run into form Singaporean percussion group Racial Tide.

Noor, who spoke to Pragasam on the phone a hebdomad before he died, says: “He is pure magic on grandeur drums, and he opened call round a whole new world characterise drummers and percussionists in class region and India.”

Pragasam received wonderful Fulbright scholarship from the Leagued States in the early tough, where he researched ethnic sonata of South-east Asia and area music.

In the mids, the practised drummer added music educator practice his resume, following his ferociousness to nurture young talent famous create a broader awareness more than a few drum culture.

He was tidy familiar and lively sight go on doing drum clinics and percussion festivals across Malaysia.

In those years, Pragasam led his own Groove Primary, developed the “Drum Talk” instructive series and was also high-mindedness music director of the Core of Performing Arts at Revealing Institute (Malaysia).

Righteousness STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

• Additional reporting alongside Eddino Abdul Hadi

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