Indian Music?

The vocalists Parween Sultana and Dilshad Khan seem to defy what is humanly possible with their voices. Their music is virtuosic, emotionally compelling, and absolutely life-affirming. The master of the sarod, Ali Akbar Khan, is another artist very much worth exploring.

For a more interesting east/west collaboration than "Meeting By The River"---Cooder was very tired at that session and it shows---"Good People In Times Of Evil" by Jonas Hellborg, Shawn Lane, and V. Selvaganesh is a remarkably vital document.

Second looking at the records of Ali Akbar Khan.

A big SECOND to "Meeting by the River" Water Lily is an excellent label and sound is excellent on this...
check any SHAKTI recording with John Mclaughlin.. best ones are from late 70's "Natural Elements".
Second on anything Zakir Hussian.

A cardiologist I work with turned me onto Natacha Atlas, the album something Dangerous is really cool.

Indian with many world intonations added in. Not purely Ravi Shankar, but something to look into if you like the genre but want something a bit more contemporary as well.

There are some names which are always good bets: Ali Akhbar Khan, Nikhil Banerjee, Ram Narayan, Zakir Hussein, Mahapurush Misra. The last two are tabla players, the first three play sarod, sitar and sarangi respectively. They are the best-known and always good but that doesn't mean lesser-known artists can't turn in some great performances.

My own favourite musician is Zia Mohuiddin Dagar on rubra vina. This is an antique instrument that very few know how to play, and Z. M. does the slower movements exclusively: alap and jor. To me it is very profound and meditative music.

Perhaps I should mention that the only living persons I name are Ram Narayan, who is over 80, and Zakir Hussein, who will soon be 60. I would love to know more about the younger generation.