The Whole Music Experience

World   Shujaat Husain Khan, Katayoun Goudarzi,   Abhiman Kaushal and Ajay Prasanna   Spring   (no label)   To say that Spring by Hindustani sitarist Shujaat Husain Khan and Iranian vocalist Katayoun Goudarzi is a “heart” album barely describes the listening experience.   Combining the ancient Sufi poet Rumi’s soulful language with the strains of Indian sitar, bansuri flute (Ajay Prasanna) and gentle tabla beats (Abhiman Kaushal), these musicians aim for spiritual Oneness and achieve it.   Certainly, I would love to have the Rumi text in front of me while listening to this double CD recording, but even closing my eyes and allowing the voices and instruments to float over and around me takes me to a meditative place.   Yâr with its lilting melody, repetitive poetry line, and delicious beats as well as, passionate Spring (titular track), stand out as favorites for me.   The first song mentioned features vir...

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...