Raga Records

Review from eyeneer:

NIKHIL BANERJEE LIVE AT DE KOSMOS AMSTERDAM 1972

Ragas MANOMANJARI SINDHU KHAMAJ - 2 CD (Raga

212 A -B) AAD

NIKHIL BANERJEE: sitar ZAMIR AHMED KHAN: tabla

Master musician, the late Nikhil Banerjee, perhaps one of the most important artists in Indian classical music, luckely has had some his most important live performances preserved on Raga Records, a label that specializes in Indian music. LIVE AT THE KOSMOS AMSTERDAM 1972 , documents a stellar performance recorded November 24, 1972 at a church/alternative performance space in Holland and features Zamir Ahmed Khan on tabla. Disc 1 starts out with MANOMANJARI, an intense classical piece with fierce tension and interplay between tabla and sitar - this captures the rue raw essence of Banerjee's mellifluous playing weaving through with great dexterity and refined skill of the master musician. Zamir Ahmed Khan, a disciple of Zaiyed Khan is equally as intricate and inspiring, and the two seem to have a commited dialog. Like many great bodies of music, MANOMANJARI weaves through a delicate balance of tension and intensity - the result is two amazing players well aware that there are no boundaries between them. The second raga, which comprises disc 2 is entitled SINDHU KAMAJ. The unique interplay between Nikhil Banerjee and Zamir Ahmed Khan during this raga is answered by resonant phrasing that delicately attunes each instrument upon the other, creating, what is in effect, the absolute essence of what ultimately this music is all about - feeling and expression. RAGA Records is a profound label, perhaps too little known, but anyone with an interest in Indian music should absolutely consider this label as a major gold mine of amazing documents.