Customer Reviews

Plays Alap

5 star:		(4)
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North Indian classical music, and music in general, at its best. Words cannot describe the effect of every single note Ustad Ali Akbar Khan plays. But I'll try. Moving, out of this world, mind-boggling, a story in the making. He takes you into another realm. He unfolds the ragas slowly, just a couple of notes at time, letting himself and you absorb everything the music has to offer--the whole point of the alap. It is pure joy to be able to hear him play such long alaps. It is rare to hear it on a recording. The ragas on this CD convey very deep emotions. Shri Rag will keep you shaking your head in amazement. You will treasure all three alaps. They are easily worth their weight in gold. This recording makes me want to stop everything else, put a CD on, sit down, and just listen.

As one one of the greatest living musicians of our time, this superb recording re-confirms Ali Akbars genius. His total mastery of the instrument together with sublime control of the notes makes this rare rendering of Pilu Baroowa a master piece. Although the piece is meant to be light, Khansahib develops the raag with the detail and attention that he would a grand raag such as Darbari or Bageshree. Amazing is that the quality of the recording, simply fantastic. This CD must be included into your collection.

I am in total agreement with the other two reviews. This is
music making of the highest order. One reviewer chose to make
special mention of the Shri Rag, and the other made special
mention of Pilu Baroowa. As great as these two performances are, I feel that the crowning performance on the album is that
of the Ragini Iman Kalyan because it is the most extended of the three performances. It is the performance that for me best
illustrates the following quote from the liner notes by Ali Akbar Khan:
"You don't jump and show the whole picture of the
raga, but first develop the mood of the raga
which is going to come. It is like meditation."

He starts by playing one note at a time, leaving a space between
each note, sometimes bending a note. As the raga continues,
more notes are added and the speed is increased until the listener is enmeshed in an increasingly rich tapestry of sound.
I don't know how to explain it adequately, but Khansahib manages
to draw more feeling and atmosphere from of one note than many
performers can extract from all the notes of an extended composition. When I listen to this music, time stops, and I find
myself at a higher level of consciousness sensing things I can't describe. The only way anyone can understand the intense
spiritual joy that this music can give is too listen to it with undivided attention and no distractions. There is no music that I know that can empty the mind and regenerate the soul as well
as that on this album. I can promise any serious lover of music that they will have a life transforming experience if they will spare two hours to listen to this entire album without distractions.

There are no words to describe Ali Akbar Khan genius: this album is marvelous. The usual prelude of a raga performance (known as alap) it's fully explored with endless ideas and variations; on the second disc Ali plays a sort of "free improvisation raga" (!) that even echoes the solo guitar works of John Fahey & Derek Bailey reaching unknown musical regions. The performance and the sarod are unbelievable. Great Indian Music for the future: get it while you can! If you want more sarod magic get the "Signature Series" with the beautiful 60's recordings remastered.