As if playing one violin within the Western art music tradition wasn't difficult enough, the virtuoso L. Shankar has made it his trade to both sing and play a customized double violin within the contexts of Hindustani, Carnatic, Western, and experimental musical sensibilities. On this 1990 ECM release, Pancha Nadai Pallavi, he lays down two tracks, the first without percussion and the second in collaboration with Zakir Hussain on tabla and Vikku Vinayakram on ghatam. Caroline also accompanies the L. Shankar with the drone setting sruthi (a small one-note hand-pumped reed organ) and talam (a pair of small hand cymbals). With the first track L. Shankar performs the ragam "Sankarabharanam" (a ragam is the Carnatic equivalent to the Hindustani raga). For nearly 30 minutes he elegantly articulates an innumerable series of variations on traditional forms, melodies, and rhythms. The double violin allows him to imitate the sounds of a multi-octave string ensemble. On the CD's second cut a serpentine nine and one-half beat rhythmic cycle, the Mahalakshmi Tala, provides the temporal framework for the performance. An original creation by L. Shankar himself, this tala is realized by tabla superstar Zakir Hussain and the celebrated ghatam (clay water pot) player Vikku Vinayakram. Both of these percussive masters draw a myriad of tones and conjure up a fortified stew of rhythmic cadences from their respective instruments. In sum, Shankar's Pancha Nadai Pallavi is a smashing CD that represents virtuosic creativity and experimentation at work in both solo and collaborative contexts. by John Vallier
Tracklist :
1 Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Ragam: Sankarabharanam 28:35
2 Ragam Tanam Pallavi – Talam: Mahalakshmi Tala - 9 1/2 Beats – Pancha Nadai Pallavi 31:15
Credits :
Ghatam – Vikku Vinayakram
Performer [Talam], Shruti Box [Sruthi] – Caroline
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Tabla – Zakir Hussain
Violin [Double Violin], Vocals – Shankar
30.5.22
SHANKAR - Pancha Nadai Pallavi (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
SHANKAR - M.R.C.S. (1991) WV (image+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Adagio 2'03
Shankar
2 March 2'27
Jon Christensen
3 All I Care 6'23
Shankar
4 Reasons 5'32
Shankar
5 Back Again 4'40
Shankar
6 Al's Hallucinations 6'19
Shankar
7 Sally 4'31
Shankar
8 White Buffalo 3'20
Zakir Hussain / Vikku Vinayakram
9 Ocean Waves 7'47
Shankar
Credits :
Drums – Jon Christensen
Ghatam – Vikku Vinayakram
Producer [Produced By] – Manfred Eicher
Tabla – Zakir Hussain
Violin [Double Violin] – Shankar
SHANKAR - Soul Searcher (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Though rooted in the traditions of North Indian classical music, this album adds a subtle modern twist that makes it more digestible to Western ears. Soul Searcher consists of one 50-minute track that swells and recedes, evolving into an epic composition of almost otherworldly beauty. The music combines all the common elements of traditional Indian music -- syncopated tabla rhythms, droning tamboura, dazzling vocals -- with Shankar's breathtaking violin melodies, then adds keyboards courtesy of Peter Gabriel, who featured the violinist's talents prominently on Passion. Indian music has always had an influence over Western rock & roll bands, from the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Monster Magnet, and Soul Searcher is a wonderfully accessible introduction for newcomers looking to delve into the genre. by Bret Love
Tracklist :
1 Ragam, Tanam, Pallavi Ragam : Kapi Seethalakshmi Talam : 6 3/4 Beats 50:46
Credits :
Ghatam – Vikku Vinayakram
Keyboards – Peter Gabriel
Performer [Kanjira] – Shankar
Producer – Bill Laswell, Caroline, Shankar
Tabla – Zakir Hussain
Violin – Shankar, V. Lakshminarayana
Vocals – Caroline, Ganam Rao, Shankar
SHANKAR - Nobody Told Me (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Chittham Irangaayo 18:40
(Ragam: Hamsadhvani / Talam: Adi)
2 Chodhanai Thanthu 13:20
(Ragam: Chakravakam / Talam: Adi)
3 Nadru Dri Dhom - Tillana 2:04
(Ragam: Hindolam / Talam: Adi)
Credits :
Composed By – Ganam Rao, Shankar, V. Lakshminarayana
Ghatam – Vikku Vinayakram
Tabla – Zakir Hussain
Violin [Double], Vocals, Producer – Shankar
Violin, Violin [Double Violin], Vocals – V. Lakshminarayana
Vocals – Ganam Rao
Vocals, Tambura – Caroline
SHANKAR • ZAKIR HUSSAIN • T.H. VINAYAKRAM - Eternal Light (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Virtuosic brilliance smoothly melds with complimentary group interplay on Shankar's Eternal Light. A quarter of a century after their first collaboration in the East-West fusion ensemble Shakti, double violinist and vocalist Shankar, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, and ghatam (clay pot) master T.H. Vinayakram come together on this Moment Records release. Son of the famed V. Lakshminarayana Iyer, Shankar was a precocious child violinist and singer. A five-octave vocal range and unmatched command of the ten-string double violin allow Shankar to sway from piercing high notes to rumbling bass tones with grace. Zakir Hussain's deftly played tabla patterns and T.H. Vinayakram's authoritatively articulated ghatam lines match Shankar's own exemplary performance without jeopardizing the integral success of the CD. It is the ensemble and their works that really glow, above and beyond the individual success of the musicians. An impelling CD, which marks 25 years of friendship and stands as a dedication to Zakir Hussain's late father and sister -- Ustad Allarakha and Raxia, respectively -- Eternal Light should shine brightly for generations to come. by John Vallier
Tracklist :
1 Ragamalika 14:32
Lakshminarayana Shankar
2 Ragam Kiravani 7:45
Lakshminarayana Shankar
3 Tanam Kiravani 9:49
Lakshminarayana Shankar
4 Pancha Nadai Pallavi Kiravani 15:15
Lakshminarayana Shankar
Vocals – Niranjani
5 Drum Solos/Pancha Nadai Pallavi 10:42
Lakshminarayana Shankar
Credits :
Ghatam – T.H. Vinayakram
Tabla, Executive-Producer, Photography By – Zakir Hussain
Violin [Double Violin], Vocals, Cover [Album Cover Concept], Photography By, Producer – Shankar
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e.s.t. — Retrospective 'The Very Best Of e.s.t. (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
"Retrospective - The Very Best Of e.s.t." is a retrospective of the unique work of e.s.t. and a tribute to the late mastermind Esb...