In review---Ravi Returns
Ravi Shankar Nine Decades, Vol. II Reminiscence of North Vista East Meets West Music Nine Decades, Vol. III Orchestral Experimentations East Meets West Music Imagine it is 1969 and you’re sitting in Hollywood parlor witnessing two ragas performed in the intimate space of Ravi Shankar’s home. Not only that, Shankar and tabla player, Alla Rakha just returned from playing Woodstock. While we can’t travel back in time, you can listen to Raga Kaunsi Kanada North Vista (28:14) and Raga Bihag North Vista (39:22) in your home now that the ragas were re-mastered and on Reminiscence of North Vista released as part of Shankar’s Nine Decades series. Shankar’s and Rakha’s performance feels alive and even spontaneous coming off this disk. This vibrant presence in my room is hard to explain. Raga Kaunsi Kanada begins with a meditative alap that last for most of the duration of the track. An alap allow musici...