For five days at the Jodhpur Music Festival, over 150 artists, some from the remotest corners of India and other mainstream musicians, played together, on long forgotten instruments and modern ones, producing an incredible range of music and sound. On day five, flamenco dance and gypsy music vibed beautifully with Rajasthani folk, with the best surprise saved for the end, Sivamani’s pulsating beats in the courtyard of the spectacular Mehrangarh Fort.

“My new album will be out soon this year and I have a few scheduled performances with Ustad Zakir Hussain,” said Sivamani (below), who will soon be leaving for the US with AR Rahman for the Jai Ho world tour.

Rajasthani instrumentalists Mehruddin Langa and Karim Khan played a rare instrument called the Algoza, which sounded a lot like the flute. This mellow performance was followed by a saucy flamenco dance in the Old Zenana Courtyard. As guitarist Antonio Rey began his intricate strumming patterns, the audience applauded his almost perfect rhythm that didn’t miss a beat. “Flamenco’s roots can be traced to the 15th century, when tribes of gypsies, as part of a migrational movement to Spain from India, began settling in Andalusia. No wonder Indians relate to my music,” smiled Rey, also the music director of the popular Spanish cabaret O La La.

Then entered the nimble-footed dancer Farruco, whose striking dance movements were a blend of technical poise and passionate intensity. The festival ended at dawn with devotional music by Prahlad Tipaniya at Jaswant Thada, right next to the Fort. And no Mick Jagger, the international patron of festival didn’t show up.