Media Release

Panjim, Aug 25: ‘Goa for Giving’, headed by the dynamic Armando Gonsalves, who is passionate about music and Konkani, recently organized a grand show of Konkani music, at the Jazz street, Campal, here, on the eve of the World Konkani Day and in celebration of the World Goa.

Konkani superstars Sonia Shirsat, O’luv Rodrigues (both from Goa) and Eric Ozario and his Mandd Sobhann troupe from Mangalore gave a scintillating performance. The best of the Goan and the Mangalore styles of Konkani music enthralled the houseful audience. The renowned saxophonist Joaquim D’Souza led the Goan orchestra.

It was indeed a rare evening of the best of Konkani music. While Sonia Shirsat majestically rendered the choicest of Chris Perry numbers, O’luv very intensely presented some of his best songs.

Eric Ozario and the Mandd Sobhann troupe served a feast of traditional and contemporary Mangalorean songs to the immense pleasure of the audience. Eric, Joyce, Prakash D’Souza and Lavita Lobo were on lead vocals. They were backed by Roshan D’Souza (lead guitar), Richard Monteiro (keyboard), Sachin Sequeira (drums), all on back-up vocals. Sunil Kumar on the violin, Umesh Iddya on sax and trumpet and Ashley Aiman on bass gelled very well as a professional orchestra.

While Joaquim D’Souza excelled on his sax and clarinet, a team of young boys rendered a few instrumentals on trumpets and sax.

Among the dignitaries present were Manohar Parrikar, the chief minister of Goa, Ramakant Khalap, ex-union minister, Tomazinho Cardozo, the ex-speaker of the Goan assembly.

All in all, it was a memorable musical evening, a befitting tribute to the beauty and variety of Konkani music. Hats off to Armando Gonsalves and his group of ‘Goa for Giving’, for thinking of such a unique show and for organizing it so meticulously.