Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Doctor and the Ustad: Matchless

Dharmavati

I've been reading a lot about African music, especially Congolese rumba, in the past few months. But what is going around my iPod and other musical machines at the moment is devotional and classical music from India and Pakistan. 

Before nipping off to bed I thought I'd share one of my favorite records with you.

Matchless is an excerpt of a live concert by Dr. L. Subramaniam, violinist par excellence and Ustad Allah Rakha, magician of the tabla.  The good Dr. is brother of the other great Carnatic violinst, L. Shankar (featured in an earlier post Carnatic Soul Jazz).  Ustadji, of course, is most famous for being Pandit Ravi Shankar's accompanist for most of the 1960a and 70s.  The combination of these two master musicians is sublime.  Both Dr and Ustadji take their turns at beguiling the lucky audience with their virtuosity and soulfulness by playing extended solos before joining forces in Raga Malika.

 If you've just woken and getting ready for a day, let this mini concert center you. If you are contemplating rolling into bed, let this be your bedtime story.

Track Listing

1. Raga Dharmavati
2. Raga Malika

Listen here

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