Ravi Shankar - Concert For Peace, Live At Royal Albert Hall, London (1993) {2CD Set, Moment Records MRCD1013 rel 1995}
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© 1995 Moment Records USA | MRCD 1013
Indian Classical / Indian Raga / Meditative / Sitar / Sarod / Tabla / World Music

This is a live recording of a concert given by Ravi Shankar in 1993 and released to commemorate his 75th birthday a year and a half later. He is accompanied on tabla by virtuoso Zakir Hussain and on sarod by his own student (and virtuoso in his own right), Partha Sarathy. He begins the evening with his own interpretation of a rare raga, that of jait. He chose the version played here after researching a few possible forms of the raga that have appeared over the centuries (families, essentially, of ragas). After exploring the grounds of jait thoroughly, he moves on to kirwani, a raga adapted by Shankar from the Carnatic system. He draws out a mood of romanticism, eroticism, and happiness mainly, his preferred method of dealing with some of the madhur ragas.

Chora(s)san Time-Court Mirage - Blues Alif Lam Mim (2021) {Blank Forms Editions}
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© 2021 Important Records / Blank Forms Editions
Experimental / Modern Classical / Raga / Electronic / Avant-Garde

Fathoms deep, kaleidoscopic devotional drone that channels Catherine Christer Hennix's passion for Arabic poetry and her studies alongside Hindustani raga master Pandit Pran Nath. Originally released in 2016, "Blues Alif Lam Mim" is the recording of a 2014 performance of Swedish composer Catherine Christer Hennix's just-intonation ensemble, featuring brass, electronics and voices.

Ravi Shankar has been described as one of the greatest musicians on the planet. This record, one of his classic World Pacific albums, clearly lends credence to that statement. But the thing that makes this record interesting is the fact that it contains a unique fusion of Shankar and his group performing with respected jazz flutist Paul Horn. It's an extremely gratifying combination, and Horn plays with a true jazzman's restraint on the five short selections that open the record. The second half is devoted to one long (20 minute) traditional raga, "Raga Multani," in which Shankar's awesome ability and stamina is matched only by that of his ensemble, especially Alla Rakha on tabla. Essential for any fan of Shankar or Indian music. Awesome.

As is usually the case with Shankar, the music is quite accessible to Western ears. The jor section of the piece "Dhun" is quite tuneful, for example. And the brevity of the raags (five, ten, 16, and 21 minutes) really helps. The five-minute track is a stirring tabla solo by Alla Rakha with minimal accompaniment by Shankar. Highly recommended for Indian music beginners.