A special concert celebrating the music of singer-songwriter Kabir Suman is scheduled to take place in Dhaka on 2 October, with three Bangladeshi artistes set to perform both their original compositions and selected songs associated with Suman.
Suman, a familiar name among music listeners in Bangladesh and West Bengal, will not be present at the event. Instead, the entire programme has been arranged as a tribute to his music and creative contribution to Bengali song.
The concert will be held at Butternote Jazz Cafe in Banani, Dhaka. Its title, ‘Suddenly on the Street Office Zone’, has been taken from the title of one of Suman’s songs. The choice of the name reflects the organisers’ plan to give the event a street-concert character within an office-area setting.
Singer-songwriters Autumnal Moon, Rezaul Karim Limon and Nahid Hasan will perform at the concert. Each artiste will present songs from their own repertoire, while also taking on compositions by Suman. The combination is expected to create a programme that moves between contemporary original music and familiar Bengali songs.
Kabir Suman has developed a distinctive identity in Bengali music through his work as a singer, songwriter and composer. His songs have frequently focused on ordinary urban experiences, personal emotions and observations of life, with lyrics playing a central role in his musical expression. His work has consequently found listeners across geographical boundaries, including in Bangladesh and West Bengal.
The Dhaka concert will offer the three participating artistes an opportunity to interpret Suman’s songs in their own voices while retaining space for their individual musical identities. Their original compositions will provide a contrast with the tribute performances, giving the audience a broader picture of the artistes appearing on the programme.
The absence of Suman himself means the focus of the evening will remain on his compositions. Rather than a performance by the artiste being honoured, the event will present his music through fellow singer-songwriters, allowing familiar songs to be experienced in a live concert setting.
The programme is being organised by Aajob Karkhana, the organisation founded by singer-songwriter Joy Shahriar. The initiative brings together three contemporary Bangladeshi performers around the work of an artiste whose songs have continued to resonate with Bengali-speaking audiences.
For listeners in Dhaka, the 2 October event will therefore offer both a tribute to Kabir Suman and a platform for the three participating artistes to showcase their own work. With Suman’s songs forming a key part of the programme, the concert will place his music at the heart of an evening of live performances.
