Indian Sitar Stuff

Anyone interested in Santoor? The artist to lookout for is Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and is the best santoor player in the world. I have his recording which is superb "Music of the Mountains". One of his best selling album is "The call of the Valley". This album is difficult to find but absolute gem.

The Indian Flutest to look out for is Pandit Hari Prasad Churasia, he is considered the best when it comes to traditional indaian bamboo flute. He had collaborated with Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin and Jan Garberek on the album "Making Music" which is available on ECM, An absolutely wonderful album. The sonics are first rate as well. This is my reference CD when it comes to Indian Music.

Bhatt has already been mentioned so will refrain from any comment except, he is really good! For those who may want to see him performing live, they can get the Eric Clapton's DVD entitled Guitar Festival and on disc two his is the first performance.

I will come back with some more suggestions later after going through my collection, getting forgetful nowadays ;)

This doesn't fall into the category of "classical" Indian music, but if you like that influence in your music, you might check out the CDs "Jubilee" (Harry Manx and Kevin Breit) and "Wise and Otherwise" (Harry Manx) for music that melds Indian influences with the blues.

Quadophile, I'm in total agreement with your enthusiasm for Shiv Kumar Sharma's Santoor playing. It's wonderful, sublime music. I've got half a dozen of his cd's and they are all winners. Musicslug is giving good advice. The long, slow, quiet buildup of a raga's introductory section and the length of the ragas give the cd format some advantages over vinyl. This is coming from someone who prefers vinyl usually.

Todster,

Shiv Kumar Sharma's music is based on Ragas particularly his album "Music of the mountains" is based on Raag "Pahari", (Pahar in hindi means mountain) and it certainly falls in the category of classical or to be more precise, light classical.

"Making Music" is certainly not pure classical.

4yanx, if you interested in the Sarod by now, I would recommend Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan as well. I saw him live with his two sons a couple of years ago
in Albuquerque. He visits the Southwest and California every couple of years,
so watch out for concerts if you are close by. I am only aware CD's at the
moment, but will check for vinyl if you are interested.

Otherwise, I can just emphasize the recommendations for Water Lily
Acoustics. Their recordings on vinyl are excellent. V.M. Bhatt is right now
touring the US/Canada and I saw him just 2 months ago. Also, Subramanian
(violin) has great recordings on WLA, which I found new at Acoustic Sounds
and Music Direct. Worth checking out.

Nice to hear that Indian EMI vinyl is so highly regarded. My wife's parents
(who are from India) just dropped off 10 Indian classical LP's with me that
they had lying around for the last 20 years. Now, I'll have to check for LP's if I
get to visit India again...

Also, not quite Indian classical, but at least available as excellent recordings
on vinyl (from Enya records): Rabih Abou Khalil "Sultan's Picnic" (Oud). My
favorite for merging middle eastern music and western jazz.

Good luck on your search for Indian Classical on vinyl.