Various Artists - Miles From India (2008) [2CD]

Mixing the music of jazz icon Miles Davis with sounds and instruments from India, as producers Bob Belden and Yusuf Gandhi did on Miles from India, was far from an outrageous proposition. Davis set the precedent himself — not only with his use of Indian players like the tabla virtuoso Badal Roy in sessions issued on albums like Big Fun and Get Up with It, but also with his sinuous modal compositions stretching back to 1959's epochal Kind of Blue and continuing through his electric period of the '70s.

ARTISTS:The Miles alumni included on the sessions are saxophonists Dave Liebman (1972-74) and Gary Bartz (1970-71), guitarists Mike Stern (1981-84), Pete Cosey (1973-76) and John McLaughlin (1969-72), bassists Ron Carter (1963-69), Michael Henderson (1970-76), Marcus Miller (1981-1984), Benny Rietveld (1987-91), keyboardists Chick Corea (1968-72), Adam Holzman (1985-87) and Robert Irving III (1980-88), drummers Jimmy Cobb (1958-63), Leon 'Ndugu' Chancler (1971), Lenny White (1969) and Vince Wilburn (1981, 1984-1987) and tabla player Badal Roy (1972-3).

The Indian contingent is represented by keyboardist Louiz Banks, drummer Gino Banks, American-born alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, sitarist Ravi Chari, Vikku Vinayakram (a charter member of Shakti) on ghatam, V. Selvaganesh (a member of Shakti and Remember Shakti) on khanjira, U. Shrinivas (from Remember Shakti) on electric mandolin, Brij Narain on sarod, Dilshad Khan on sarangi, Sridhar Parthasarathy on mridangam, Taufiq Qureshi and A. Sivamani on percussion, Kala Ramnath on Carnatic violin, Rakesh Chaurasia on flute and Shankar Mahadevan & Sikkil Gurucharan on Indian classical vocals.

tracklist:
CD 1
1. Spanish Key 19:44
2. All Blues 9:21
3. Ife (Fast) 8:41
4. In A Silent Way 2:33
5. It's About That Time 10:00
6. Jean Pierre 11:36

CD 2
1. So What 8:09
2. Miles Runs The Voodoo Down 9:03
3. Blue In Green 13:07
4. Great Expectations 8:39
5. Ife (Slow) 14:11
6. Miles From India 6:53

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Remember Shakti - Saturday Night In Bombay (ft. John McLaughlin) (2001) {Verve}

SATURDAY NIGHT IN BOMBAY was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best World Music Album.
John McLaughlin brought his revived Indo-jazz project Shakti to Bombay (Mumbai) in late 2000, and the result is this live disc, which features ly four compositions but runs over an hour in length. (The title is a deliberate play on 1980's Friday Night in San Francisco.) McLaughlin's electric guitar and Zakir Hussain's tabla remain at the core of the group's sound. U. Shrinivas (on mandolin) and V. Selvaganesh (on kanjira, ghatam, and mridangam, all Indian percussion instruments) remain from the previous album, but there are also a number of Indian guest musicians, giving the music many added dimensions.

The most remarkable guests are Debashish Bhattacharya on Hindustani slide guitar, Shankar Mahadevan on vocals, and Shiv Kumar Sharma on santur, an Indian hammered dulcimer. Sharma composed the second track, "Shringar"; nearly half an hour long, it consists almost entirely of a hypnotic dialogue between santur and guitar. Mahadevan's vocal performance on the opening "Luki" resounds with spiritual power, while Shrinivas's "Giriraj Sudha" gives a sunny, optimistic lift to the somewhat mournful set.

Personnel: John McLaughlin (guitar); Shankar Mahadevan (vocals); Debashish Bhattacharya (Hindustani slide guitar); U. Shrinivas (mandolin); Shiv Kurmar Shauma (santur); Sivamani (drums, percussion); Bhavani Shankar (dholak, pakhawaj); Roshan Ali, Aziz (dholak); Taufiq Qureshi (def, dafli, percussion); Zakir Hussain (tabla); V. Selvaganesh (kanjira, ghatam, mridangam); A.K. Pallanival (tavil).

tracklist:
1. Luki
2. Shringar
3. Giriraj Sudha
4. Bell'alla
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Rahul Sharma - Music of the Himalayas (2000)

Rahul Kumar Sharma is a master of the santoor, India's oldest stringed instrument and an ancestor of the hammered dulcimer, and this live album shows the extent of his virtuosity. Accompanied by a tabla player, he shimmers over the melodies (which come from the region of the Himalayas -- hence the title), letting the sounds ebb and flow. Whether tracing a slow tune or spiraling into a ravishing, dizzying improvisation, his command is complete -- as is his communication with his musical partner. The way they work together on the long "Melody of Kashmir in Contemporary Music" is nothing less than stunning; both together and alone they create a total sound, pushing each other along, and taking solos that seem to defy the possibilities of their instruments. It's a tour de force -- but that's true of the entire disc, an object lesson in both the santoor and the playing of ragas and folk tunes.

Tracks:
1. Maqam-E-Navaa (Sufyana Musiqi) (Traditional/arr. by Rahul Sharma) 10:28
2. Melody of Kashmir (Traditional/arr. by Rahul Sharma) 13:18
3. Melody of Jammu & Kashmir (Rahul Sharma) 12:37
4. Melody of Kashmir in Contemporary Music (Rahul Sharma) 36:09

Personnel:
Rahul Sharma (Santoor)
Ustad Shafat Ahmed Khan (Tabla)
Pandit Bhawani Shankar (Pakhawaj, Hudka and Ghungroo)

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S. Balachander - Veena Virtuoso

Personnel:
S. Balachander, veena
R. Ramesh, mridangam
S. B. S. Raman, thamboora

Track Listings:
1. Raaga Aalaapanam 'Gaangeyabhooshan' And Kriti 'Evvara Raamayyaa'
2. Raaga Aalaapanam, Thaanam 'Shadivdha Maargini' And Kriti 'Paahi Raama Dhoota'

Recorded: Tokyo, Mar. 22, 1982

Recorded in March 1982 in Tokyo, this selection presents two Tyagaraja kritis with mridangam and tanpura accompaniment. Fulsome notes in Japanese. Skimpy notes in English.

Pete Levin - Jump! (2010)

Pete’s 2010 CD release JUMP! continues to push the envelope of the traditional organ trio. The set is a collaboration with the remarkable guitarist Dave Stryker and legendary drummer Lenny White. They are joined on 5 of the 10 tracks by the dazzling percussionist Manolo Badrena. Pete knows how to feature his sidemen, but when it’s time for the Hammond to take charge, he does just that. In addition, the organ’s bass is mixed up front as an equal element. This is not your father’s organ trio! The set rocks and grooves hard; Smooth Jazz it ain't! Five of Pete's original compositions on the album range from hard-driving funk (JUMP! and THE BIG DOG IS ALWAYS RIGHT) to burning straight-ahead (EXCLAMATION!) to the dark and textural (THAT WAS THEN). In addition to Pete’s originals, the set includes some Jazz classics, such as Charles Mingus' NOSTALGIA IN TIMES SQUARE and Freddie Hubbard’s LITTLE SUNFLOWER, done like you've never heard it - slow and moody in 7/4 time. The final track on JUMP! is a tribute to the late guitarist, Joe Beck. Three years ago, Pete and Joe recorded HONEYSUCKLE ROSE as a duet, but it wasn't used on the album they were working on. For this project, Pete retrieved the original tracks and added Danny Gottlieb on drums. The three had played many trio gigs in the past, so this is a poignant reunion. Pete currently tours with a high-energy organ trio with guitarist Dave Stryker and drummer Lenny White.

Track list:1. Jump! (6:52)
2. Exclamation! (6:52)
3. That Was Then (6:41)
4. The Big Dog Is Always Right (6:50)
5. Talk To The Animals (6:33)
6. Nostalgia In Times Square (6:01)
7. Little Sunflower (6:06)
8. Candido (5:47)
9. Alone Together (7:13)
10. Honeysuckle Rose (5:01)
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Kevin Kern - Harmony Moment (2010)

A new album for famous pianist Kevin Kern. Listen to it and you can feel the flowing of melody by piano.

TracklistCD1

1.Joy of the Journey
2.Scene in a Dream
3.Sundial Dreams
4.Endless Blue Sky
5. Dance of the Dragonfly
6. The Glistening Pond
7. Light Spirit
8. Another Realm
9. Le Jardin

CD2
1. Safe in Your Embrace
2. Through the Arbor
3. Remembering the Light
4. Cauldron of Healing
5. A Thousand Miles Away
6. Velvet Green
7. Twilight's Embrace
8. Touch the Sky
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Dan Gibson's Solitudes - Desert Spirit (2009)

The enchanting beauty of the Southwest comes alive in this blend of Native American flute and the natural sounds of the desert.

Tracklist:-1. Dragonfly
2. Infinite Sky
3. Morning Star
4. Rebirth
5. Dream Catcher
6. My Offering
7. Dance of Spring
8. Desert Spirit
9. Ancient Passage
10. Wisdom of Years

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From The Heart (2010)

Tracklist:1. Anan Ryoko - Utakata
2. Nils Frahm - Over There It's Raining
3. Keiko Matsui - Seeker
4. Fox - Ilu
5. Ruslan Talabira - Instrumental #1
6. Antony Raijekov - Deep Blue
7. Kanute - Days
8. Aleksey Chistilin - Autumn Rain
9. Niels Lan Doky - Misty Dawn
10. Poet's Corner - Cafe le Monde
11. Tranquillo - Elaborated Compassion
12. Darjeeling - Komal
13. Thomas Newman - Any Other Name

Jazz Trumpet (3CD) 2006

TrackList:
CD1
01. That's the Stuff You Gotta Watch
02. Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
03. Stella by Starlight
04. The Champ
05. The Jitney Man
06. Long Green
07. Nostalgica
08. Cherokee
09. Lady Be Good
10. Scrapple from the Apple
11. Goin' to Minton's
12. Half Nelson
13. I Love You
CD2
01. Barbados
02. Little Willie Leaps
03. Love Me, Pretty Baby
04. Calling Dr. Jazz
05. Bringing Up Feather
06. Tin Tin Deo
07. Fat Boy
08. Someone to Watch Over Me
09. Milestones
10. Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen
11. Maternity
12. Prelude to a Kiss
13. Ray's Idea
CD3
01. Orpheus
02. Sippin' at Bells
03. Mad About the Boy
04. Fats Blows
05. Now's the Time
06. You Better Go Now
07. Red Pepper
08. I Couldn't Beat the Rap
09. Serenade to a Square
10. School Days
11. Hollerin' and Screamin'
12. Nostalgica
13. Bebop
14. Fat Girl

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Part1
Part2
Part3
Part4

Masters of Blues (2009)

Its a great collection of masters no doubt, particularly Muddy Waters and Otis Sann and Willie Dixon, appearing true to form. The black and white recordings adds to the period effect and the sound is incredibly well restored. Listening and watching these masters deliver their masterpieces tells you a lot about how this amazing genre of music has stood the test of time.

Tracklist:

Vol.1 Walkin’ the Blues:
01. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (Mc Daniels/Morgenfield) (2:53)
02. John Lee Hooker - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Hooker John Lee) (3:00)
03. Willie Dixon - Walkin' the Blues (MC Rae/Dupree) (3:02)
04. Little Walter - My Babe (Dixon Willie) (3:32)
05. Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightin' (Burnett Chester) (3:05)
06. Sonny Boy Williamson - Let Your Consience Be Your Guide (Williamson) (2:18)
07. Little Milton – I’m Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town (Weldon/Jacobs) (3:03)
08. Buddy Guy - Ten Years Ago (Buddy Guy) (2:36)
09. Albert King - California Blues (King Albert) (2:46)
10. Willie Mabon - I Don't Know (Mabon Willie) (3:07)
11. Muddy Waters - I'm Ready (Dixon Willie) (3:15)
12. Otis Spann - lt Must've Been the Devil (Spann Otis) (2:39)
13. Elmore James - Dust My Broom (Elmore James) (2:55)
14. Little Walter - Mean Old World (Walker T Bone) (2:52)
15. John Lee Hooker - Hobo Blues (Hooker John Lee) (2:48)
16. Big Joe Turner - Roll Me Baby (Jackson Melvin) (8:02)

Vol.2 The Thrill Is Gone
01. B.B. King - Payin' the Cost to Be the Boss (B.B. King) (6:11)
02. Muddy Waters - Goin' Home (Dixon Willie) (2:32)
03. Howlin’ Wolf - Highway 49 (Burnett) (3:03)
04. John Lee Hooker - Crawling King Snake (Hollins Tony) (2:39)
05. Big Joe Turner - Roll' 'm Pete (Johnson) (3:58)
06. Memphis Slim - Gamblers Blues (Chatman Peter) (4:06)
07. Elmore James - Mean Mistreatin' Mama (E. James) (2:42)
08. Jimmy Reed - My Baby is So Sweet (J. Reed) (2:40)
09. Howlinwolf - Cause of it All (Burnett) (2:45)
10. B.B. King - Guess Who (Belvin) (5:49)
11. Otis Rush - It's Hard for Me to Believe (O. Rush) (5:55)
12. Little Walter - Walters Blues (Jacobs) (3:32)
13. Jimmy Reed - Honest I Do (J. Reed/Abner) (2:39)
14. Muddy Waters - Fourty Days and Fourty Nights (Morgan/Field) (2:49)
15. John Lee Hooker - I'm in the Mood (Hooker/Taud) (2:40)
16. B.B. King - The Thrill is Gone (Hawkins/Darnell) (4:51)

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