Search - Ananda Shankar :: A Life in Music (2 CD SET)

Transitional Fossils

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 06/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"There is a vast chasm between Ananda's two US-released albums, "Ananda Shankar" (1970) and "Walking On" (1999). The former was kitchy (mostly) rock 'n roll performed on sitar, while the latter was sophisticated Indian dance music featuring modern electronic treatments by State of Bengal, aka Sam Zaman. The two albums just didn't sound like they could be products of the same musician.



In a way, they weren't. We learned in the "Walking On" liner notes that Ananda had worked steadily over these three decades, mostly in the Indian film and television industries. He remained intensely popular in India, releasing a number of records that did very well in his native land but all during this time he was off the US radar.



This two-disc set aims to correct that. Compiled from seven different albums for EMI-India, the tracks are arranged not chronologically but in order from "Ananda Shankar" to "Walking On," showing how his music progressed from a rather primitive 'Western music on Indian instruments' concept to a much deeper and more intriguing fusion of the two cultures.



The seemingly-unbridgable chasm becomes understandable, even logical, and particularly on the second disc some of the transitional steps are fascinating in and of themselves. It's easy to see why he remained popular right up to his untimely heart attack on March 26, 1999."

Anand Shankar - The Fusion Genius

La La | Lawrenceville, GA United States | 03/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is so much to write about this great sitarist/instrumentalist, but all of a sudden i can't find much to write now! Anand Shankar was probably one of the 'pionners' of what many address it as 'fusion' music! He had a head start on this fusion role wayyyyyyy b4 some other were familiar with this term. I hear so many people going nuts over Ravi Shankar, but i don't think Ravi's mucic is as melodious as Ananda's were!!! Ravi is more widely known; where as, Ananda kept a very low profile. Ananda produced less but Quality cuts. Such a great blend of sitar, guitar, drum, tabla...aah list goes on. Another word, if you are looking for an instrumental cd, i don't think there are too many of this kind! I bought every single cd with his name on it and i'm still looking for more (knowing there aren't any new ones). If you have good ear for the music, i can't see how you can be disappointe by this master piece!!!"