MUSIC REVIEW L.A. FESTIVAL : Subramaniam at Wadsworth

Because he wears so many hats, it’s hard to know what to expect from a concert by classical Indian violinist L. Subramaniam. He has been known as a jazz musician, as well as a performer in Western and Indian classical styles.

In his concert Thursday night for the L.A. Festival, the San Fernando Valley resident opted for a conservative approach in the Carnatic music tradition of South India, performing with a quartet of Indian percussionists at Wadsworth Theater.

Beginning the evening with a kriti (a devotional song played by instruments) by the 18th-Century Carnatic master Muttusvami Diksitar, Subramaniam explored subtle ornamentations accompanied by only a tampura and an electronically produced droning pattern. After the slow, opening alep section, the percussion instruments started playing one by one: a long drum, horizontally held, called the mridangam ; the more familiar tabla ; a large, bulbous ceramic pot called ghatam , and an Indian tambourine called kanjeera .

Once the entire ensemble had joined in, Subramaniam took the opportunity to display his technical prowess, rapidly moving up and down scales and closing with hyperactive crossbowing. The listening experience proved tiresome at times and less focused than ideal, but satisfying nonetheless.

After intermission, the ensemble performed a series of more complex talas , or rhythmic patterns, that highlighted the percussionists’ abilities. At one point, Subramaniam put down his instrument and allowed each of the other musicians an opportunity to show off his technique, including a solo vocalization by the ghatam- player.