Sarode Mastreo Ali Akbar Passes away

Baba, as we who had known him, lovingly and with deep respect, called him, has left this stage called "life"...
His Sarod will be for ever silent...

Yet, his music will live on... the numerous recordings that he has left us, will be played and his legion of students from around the world, will keep tending to their lessons...
The music of Baba will live on and will keep touching lives and transforming those who are touched by it...

Baba, as the word implies, was truly a father to me... he opened the door for me, a young novice, by consenting to record for the yet to be Water Lily Acoustics and thus auspiciously heading my catalog...

A man of great humility, Baba was fair and just and had a fine sense of humor... but most of all, he was a MASTER, a VIRTUOSO, a GENIUS, who gave humanity his service and knowledge with an open heart...

It was an honor, a privilege and a blessing to have known this MASTER...
Kavi Alexander.
Water Lily Acoustics.

I saw him at the Performing Arts Center in El Cajon. I believe that was his 80th birthday. The performance was incredible. A loss to all lovers of music.

One of the absolute masters. There is no Sarod player that is even close. His duets with Nikhil Banerjee are nothing short of sublime.