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6 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.

ZAKIR HUSSAIN / USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN ~ SAROD
MOMENT 1005 ~ INDIA ~ World Music & Folklore


AMG Review: The youngest son of sarod player Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Amjad Ali Khan has continued to expand on his father´s legacy. Performing as a soloist and in collaboration with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Charlie Byrd, Igor Frolav, Glenda Simpson, and Barry Mason, Khan has brought a global view to the sarod, a 25-stringed, violin-like, Indian instrument. Khan is famous for his elegant style and technique. After a lifetime of work on the instrument, he has breathed a new life to an ancient form.
 CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ZAKIR HUSSAIN / USTAD SULTAN KHAN ~ SARANGI
MOMENT 1006 ~ INDIA ~ World Music & Folklore


AMG Review: A slow, lyrical performance of the sarangi expressing love and sadness begins Rag Bhupali, Rajasthani Folk Song in Rag Bhup Mand, one of the oldest and simplest of ragas, and the exposition develops into exciting virtuosic exchanges between Sultan Khan and the famous Zakir Hussain on tabla. Perhaps the nicest surprise this album offers is the warm, sweet Rajasthani folk song, which is alternately sung and then played on the sarangi, beautifully varied but never overdone by Khan and Hussain, who actually provide a decrescendo section at the end, instead of simply stopping.
 CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KHAN ~ SPACE SHANTY
ESOTERIC 2046 (Barcode: 5013929714625) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene

Recorded: 1972 Released: 2008

Only album recorded by the short-lived Canterbury group KhanFind albums by this artist, which was fronted by guitarist Steve HillageFind albums by this artist and included keyboardist Dave StewartFind albums by this artist (who was a member of EggFind albums by this artist, another Canterbury group, at the time), bassist Nick GreenwoodFind albums by this artist and drummer Eric PeacheyFind albums by this artist, which turned out to be the first major exposure of Hillage´s considerable talents as a guitarist and composer. Later on Hillage joined GongFind albums by this artist and then released a series of excellent solo albums, but here he unveils his superb guitar work for the first time, playing a series of tunes he composed. The music is typical Canterbury mixture of Rock, Jazz and Psychedelic influences, beautifully executed and full of wit and inspiration. Stewart´s keyboards work is excellent as always and the entire album retains its original charm untouched by the passing time. The album was one of the most sought after collectors´ items for many years until reissued on CD and is considered a classic Canterbury release. A must to all Canterbury fans!
 CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

KHAN ~ SPACE SHANTY
ECLECTIC 1016 ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene


Only album from 1972 by this band. Best known as the album that first brought the guitar playing talents of guitarist Steve Hillage to public prominence, Khan`s sole album is a splendid example of a fusion of Canterbury flavoured rock combined with jazz and space rock influences. The album reached legendary status as one of the rarest and most sought after collector`s item.
 CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SEAN KHAN ~ PALMARES FANTASY
FAROUT 203 (Barcode: 5060211503573) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion

Recorded: 2018 Released: 2018

This is the third album by British saxophonist / composer Sean KhanFind albums by this artist, this time recorded in Brazil with the participation of the great Brazilian Master Hermeto PascoalFind albums by this artist, who plays melodica, keyboards, flute and adds some vocals. British guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist and an international gathering of musicians participate in the recording, including vocalist Heidi VogelFind albums by this artist and a string section. The album presents nine tracks, six of which are original compositions by Khan, one is by Pascoal, another one is co-composed by Pascoal and Khan and one is by the Brazilian songwriter Milton NascimentoFind albums by this artist.

The music is an eclectic mixture of styles, moving between Jazz, Jazz-World Fusion and Smooth Jazz, all based on solid melodic compositions and focusing on the intensive soloing by Khan, who plays with dexterity and fluidity, obviously rooted in the mid-period John Coltrane legacy.

Pascoal’s contributions are sadly more spiritual that direct, as he participates on just five of the tracks and solos sparingly. The music does carry a Brazilian tinge, especially on the tracks composed by Pascoal or Nascimento, but his influence is rather minor altogether. Nevertheless, it is always great to hear any album he plays on.

Overall, this is a very melodic Jazz album, with intense saxophone parts and excellent musicianship, which carries the tunes amicably. Some exotic spirituality and World Music influences are clearly audible and for Jazz fans who like to exit the strict traditional approach, this album is full of nice surprises.
Updated: 18/09/2022Posted: 18/09/2022CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SLAWOMIR KULPOWICZ / SHUJAAT KHAN ~ LIVE
POLSKIE RADIO 1250 (Barcode: 5907812242503) ~ POLAND ~ Jazz-World Fusion

Recorded: 2006 Released: 2013

This is the fourth installment in a series of releases documenting the recorded legacy of the great Polish Jazz pianist / composer Slawomir KulpowiczFind albums by this artist, most of which is released for the first time. Kulpowicz, who died prematurely in 2008 at the age of 56, was a victim of cancer. He was a member of groups led by the top Polish Jazz players like Zbigniew NamyslowskiFind albums by this artist and Tomasz StankoFind albums by this artist and led / co-led his own ensembles like The QuartetFind albums by this artist, In-FormationFind albums by this artist and also cooperated with many other musicians over the years. He was an avid follower of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist´s music and kept in touch with Coltrane´s wife Alice ColtraneFind albums by this artist. Following his visit to India, Kulpowicz discovered Indian music and the spiritual aura of India, which became his own.

Kulpowicz visited India for the first time in 1978, when he was a member of the Zbigniew Namyslowski quartet, which played at the Jazz Yatra in Bombay. At the time he met and befriended a young sitar player Shujaat KhanFind albums by this artist, a descendant of the legendary Khan dynasty of sitar players since hundreds of years. That friendship lasted for almost thirty years as long as Kulpowicz was alive. They played together many times in Poland and abroad. In 1984 Khan visited Poland and recorded a live album with Kulpowicz for the PoljazzFind albums on this label label. The last time they played together was in 2006, when Khan visited Poland again, bringing with him the tabla player Arunangshu ChaudhuryFind albums by this artist. Kulpowicz invited the legendary Polish electric bassist Krzysztof ScieranskiFind albums by this artist and the four played together the music presented on this album, which was recorded live at Warsaw Philharmonic Hall.

Considering the fact that European (including Jazz) and Indian music exist on almost completely separate planes, the amalgamation of the two is extremely difficult to achieve. Except for a very few earlier attempts, most importantly the John MayerFind albums by this artist / Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist Indo-Jazz FusionsFind albums by this artist from the late 1960s / early 1970 and the John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist´s ShaktiFind albums by this artist a decade later, which were groundbreaking and musically just right, most of the other attempts resulted in failures. The music included on this album proves again, that the power of music transcends not only cultural borders but also thousands of years of musical tradition, enabling conversations between musicians originating seemingly from worlds apart.

The album comprises of just three extended pieces, two of which are about half an hour long and the third a quarter of an hour in duration. Named simply "songs", they are improvisations on melodic themes composed by Kulpowicz, performed wonderfully and in perfect harmony by all four musicians. Khan voices the melody at the onset of each piece and then the musicians take extensive solos in turn, with the full quartet returning to the melodic theme several times between the solos. Kulpowicz plays superbly and his solos are simply outstanding statements in the John Coltrane tradition, emphasizing the close relationship between Coltrane´s music and the Indian influences, which are often difficult to be discovered in his music, but come to wonderful realization when performed by Kulpowicz. There is so much passion in his playing that one suspect that his premonition as to his fate was already hunting him.

Khan, who since the early meeting with Kulpowicz achieved a Masterly status in Indian music, is an obvious sitar virtuoso and his solos are also breathtaking. Chaudhury and Scieranski, although a priori destined to fulfill a less dominant role in this music, perform both splendidly and their contributions are invaluable. Scieranski especially is to be prized, as his elegant and delicate bass tones manage to keep a perfect balance with his partners and the music which usually exist without the bass foundation so typical in European music.

The music is beautifully recorded and has an outstanding sound quality, especially in view of the fact that it is a live recording. Musically it is one of the finest examples I have ever come across of cross-cultural amalgam that work naturally as "God intended". An absolute must to World-Music enthusiasts and all connoisseurs of great music, regardless of genre, geography or cultural affiliation. Respect!
 CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

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