L. Shankar

Last updated

L. Shankar (Shenkar)
LShankar photographed by Ashraf Malayali.jpg
L Shankar (Shenkar)
Background information
Birth nameShankar Lakshminarayana
Also known asL. Shankar, Shankar, Shenkar
Born (1950-04-26) 26 April 1950 (age 74)
Madras, India
Origin India
Genres
Occupations
  • Vocalist
  • electric violinist
  • lyricist
  • arranger
  • producer
Instruments
  • Double Violin
  • vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1960s–present
Labels
Formerly of
Website lshankar.com

Shankar Lakshminarayana (born 26 April 1950), [1] better known as L. Shankar, is an Indian violinist, singer and composer who also goes by the stage name Shenkar. Known for his innovative contributions to world music, [2] he is often regarded as one of the pioneers of East-West fusion, blending the rich traditions of Indian classical with Western genres [3] such as rock, pop, jazz, and electronic music. His extensive body of work spans a wide spectrum of genres, encompassing vocal and instrumental compositions. He has released 28 solo albums, the two latest being Full Moon and Over the Stars, which were released in September and August 2024, respectively. Shankar is credited with inventing the stereophonic Double violin (known as the LSD - L.Shankar Double Violin), which covers the orchestral string family's range.

Contents

His world music albums with the band Shakti during the mid-70s became the ‘standard to gauge the playing and composing abilities of any world musician following in Shakti's expansive wake”. [4] According to Downbeat’s Critics Poll, he was listed fourth among Established Violinists, and came in second in the “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” division in 1978. [3] In 1990, Shankar's talam-bending (time cycles of 9 3/4 & 6 3/4 beats) Pancha Nadai Pallavi' album was on the Billboard top ten world music chart for three months becoming the first traditional Indian record to reach those heights. [4] His 1995 Raga Abheri album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the Best World Music Album category. [5]

With Peter Gabriel, he worked on the Grammy winning album Passion (1989), the soundtrack album for Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), [6] and wrote and performed vocals on Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' (2004) which won a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year at the 36th GMA Dove Awards. He also worked on the soundtrack for the 2002 film Queen of the Damned with Jonathan Davis and Richard Gibbs and recorded eight songs of which five were picked for the movie. [6] Additionally, he collaborated on the original score for NBC's hit TV series Heroes with Wendy & Lisa. As an acclaimed musician, Shankar is ranked amongst the greatest violinists of popular music by Digital Dream Door. [7]

Early life, family and education

Shankar was born in Madras, India, on 26 April 1950 as the sixth child into a family of musicians. His three sisters studied vocal music whereas Shankar and his two brothers - Vaidyanathan and Subramaniam were trained in both vocal music as well as violin playing. [8] His father V. Lakshminarayana was a renowned Carnatic vocalist and violinist and his mother L. Seetalakshmi was a trained singer and played the veena. [4] Considered as a child prodigy, [9] Shankar began vocal training with his father at the age of two. Within a year, he was able to hum complex lines of traditional Indian compositions. [3] Having a vocal range of 5 1/2 octaves [2] Shankar often emphasizes the importance of vocal training in addition to learning an instrument to better grasp the ornamentation in Indian music. He said, "If you learn vocals and instruments and get an all-round education in music, it makes you a better performer". [10] He received his first violin at the age of 5 and when he began playing the violin, the lines he practiced were vocal melodies he had learned. [4] At the age of 7, he gave his first public concert during a festival at the Nallur Kandaswamy temple in Jaffna. [10]

Young L. Shankar on mridangam Young L.Shankar on mridangam.jpg
Young L. Shankar on mridangam

Apart from singing and playing the violin, he pursued professional mridangam playing until the age of 12. He said "my father really insisted that besides learning your melodic instrument, you also learn percussion". [4] However, he had to discontinue at his father's suggestion when he began to develop calluses on his hands. [10]

During the ethnic riots in 1958, their house was raided and set ablaze. The family fled Sri Lanka, leaving everything behind [11] and returned to Madras, India. In that year, Shankar and his two older brothers formed the Violin Trio which "made history in 20th century Carnatic music" scene. [11]

L. Shankar (aged 13) recorded in 1963 by Films Division for a documentary. L. Shankar recorded c.1963 by Films Division.jpg
L. Shankar (aged 13) recorded in 1963 by Films Division for a documentary.

Shankar gained considerable reputation across India in his early youth as an accompanist and filled in for some of the most eminent names in Carnatic music [12] often performing solo concerts that lasted between two and three hours. By the age of 17, Shankar had become a highly sought-after violinist, performing regularly on national television and recorded several albums. [3] His early success and his improvisational ingenuity is often credited to his consistent discipline and demanding practice routine for hours. [4] He said "father used to get up around 4:00 AM and wake us up. He'd practiced with us for an hour or more. We went to school at 7:30 but when we returned at 1:30 father was waiting for us with another lesson. After dinner we'd all get together and have a kind of jam session.” [4]

In spite of his early success as a musician, Shankar faced pressure from his family to have a fall back career as an engineer. [13] He obtained a B.S. in physics from India [14] and his father tried to acquire an engineering seat for him. Shankar, however, believed that music was his true calling. [15] He even vowed to break 108 coconuts at the Luz Pillayar Temple in order not to secure admission and was delighted when the results favored him. [15]

In 1969, he was offered a teaching position at Wesleyan University and moved to the US. [13] He performed regularly on campus while pursuing a PhD in ethnomusicology, which he completed in 1974. [16]

Influences

Shankar was encouraged by his father to absorb influences from the Northern Indian music traditions as well as Southern Indian traditions. According to Shankar "there is not one music that is superior to another – just different ways of expressing the beauty of our culture.” [4] He was also advised to become familiar with Western classical music [17] and had been exposed to various Western genres such as rock and pop music since his early teens. [18] At Wesleyan University, he studied world music and learnt the music systems of different cultures. [17] According to Shankar, “Music is universal, it connects all races, religions and ages. It's the only language everyone can understand and feel”. [19] Shankar had always been open to experimentation in music. [12] He said that from a young age, he perceived music visually [18] and often compared it to the colors in an artwork. He said “I’ve tried to combine different traditions…musical styles are like colors in painting: there are so many things you can do with them”. [13]

Cross-cultural Collaborations

L.Shankar & Ramnad V. Raghavan performed South Indian Classical music in Summergarden, NY 1975 L.Shankar & Ramnad V. Raghavan performed South Indian Classical music in Summergarden, NY 1975.png
L.Shankar & Ramnad V. Raghavan performed South Indian Classical music in Summergarden, NY 1975
L Shankar with McLaughlin's One Truth Band in 1978 L Shankar & McLaughlin's One Truth Band in 1978.jpg
L Shankar with McLaughlin's One Truth Band in 1978

Shankar was among the early pioneers in the 70s who introduced South Indian music to a Western audience that was more accustomed to North Indian music at that time. [20] He often merged Carnatic & Hindustani styles in his performances [21] and collaborated with jazz musicians to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western music traditions. [3] His early American recording sessions were on Archie Shepp's Attica Blues and Clifford Thornton’s Communication Network in 1972. His understanding of the Western music system and having the “sensitivity, the control, the feeling, and the knowledge” [3] of classical Indian enabled the representation of the East/West blend in music [3] that led to the founding of the group Shakti with guitarist John McLaughlin. He taught McLaughlin ragas, rhythms and ornamentation and in turn learnt about harmony and jazz [3] Shakti received overwhelming critical acclaim. [9] According to Naresh of Man's World magazine, Shankar's compositions in Shakti, were praised for their innovativeness and “for how effortlessly they projected his very own voice.” [9]

Double Violin (LSD)

Since 1980, Shankar has been using a 10-string, stereophonic double-necked electric violin for all his performances and recordings [13] which he designed and had it made by Ken Parker of Stuyvesant Sound in New York. The instrument made its debut in 1981 on Phil Collins' acclaimed solo album, Face Value , as well as on Shankar's own album, Who's to Know. [15] The concept for the double violin originated in 1978, after producing his album by Zappa Records where Shankar had to overdub a wide range of string instruments as he was unable to find session musicians who could render the Indian ornaments and styles he wanted. [9] He made a prototype with cardboard and spent about a year and a half improving the design. [17] According to Shankar, “It was not easy to get anyone to take my violin seriously until I crafted one myself putting it together piece by piece and then suddenly they responded”. [22] He and Parker spent hours testing various materials and forms and he made sure that both necks were equally strong to avoid a tendency to predominantly play on only one. [17] Also known as the LSD (L.Shankar's Double violin), [13] the lower neck covers the double bass and cello range and the upper neck generates treble sounds; the violin and viola. [2] In addition to providing a wide range of 5 ½ octaves, playing on one neck produces a sympathetic effect on the other. The horizontal rib can be positioned beneath the chin or supported against the chest (Indian style) while playing. [22]

L.Shankar in Milano (Teatre Ciak), 1990 L.Shankar in Milano (Teatre ciak), 1990.png
L.Shankar in Milano (Teatre Ciak), 1990

Due to the instrument's greater angle, the bowing was different and Shankar incorporated new techniques [9] including playing on both necks simultaneously. [23] According to him, “It’s musically more satisfying”. [9] The double violin is capable of replicating a full orchestra's effect, allowing for traditional classical performance as well as versatility in pop and jazz genres. [17] Shankar stated that “I suppose what matters is not the violin but how you play it. Without that effort your violin will never learn to speak and [even] 20 strings will make no difference”. [22] To date, Shankar has commissioned four different versions of the double violin, with the latest edition crafted by luthier John Jordan and released in 2023.

Career

1960s - 1975 Violin Trio

Violin Trio: L Vaidyanathan, L Subramaniam and L Shankar with Palghat Mani Iyer on mridangam. L Vaidyanathan, L Subramaniam and L Shankar trio with Palghat Mani Iyer on Mridangam.jpg
Violin Trio: L Vaidyanathan, L Subramaniam and L Shankar with Palghat Mani Iyer on mridangam.

Shankar, along with his brothers L. Vaidyanathan and L. Subramaniam, pioneered the trend of sibling ensembles performing Carnatic music. [11] Prior to that, Carnatic violin had been primarily a solo instrument or used as an accompaniment in vocal concerts. [11] They began performing together as the "Violin Trio". Although this approach was initially criticized by traditionalists, their music gained immense popularity in India and ultimately spread worldwide during the 1970s. [4] They recorded several albums as the Violin Trio.

1973 - 1978: Shakti (formerly known as Turiyananda Sangeet)

Turiyananda Sangit - performed on March 16, 1975, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York Turiyananda Sangit - performed on March 16, 1975 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York.jpg
Turiyananda Sangit - performed on March 16, 1975, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in New York

The original line-up, formed in 1973 consisted of Shankar on violin, John McLaughlin on guitar, R. Raghavan on mridangam, Mahalakshmi Eve McLaughlin (tamboura) and Tanima (shruti box). Before Shakti became known under this name, they were called Turiyananda Sangit, a name given to them by Sri Chinmoy, literally translated as 'the pinnacle delight in music’ [24] Zakir Hussain was later added on tabla and the name was changed to Shakti as the band members wanted a name that “listeners in the West could relate to” [24] Raghavan didn't stay with the project and TH Vikku Vinayakaram was added on ghatam for the remainder of those Shakti days.  Shankar co-wrote all of the group's material with John McLaughlin, resulting in the release of three world music albums: Shakti with John McLaughlin (1976), A Handful of Beauty (1976), and Natural Elements (1977). According to Lee Underwood, Downbeat music magazine critic, "All three are masterpieces, of which the deeply moving and technically astonishing Handful of Beauty will stand tall in recorded history for decades to come.” [3] In 1978, Shankar was listed fourth among Established Violinists by Downbeat’s Critics Poll, and came in second in the TDWR (“Talent Deserving Wider Recognition”) division. [3]

Frank Zappa & L. Shankar in Berlin, 1978 Frank Zappa - The Deathless Horsie (feat. L. Shankar), Deutschlandhalle, Berlin, September 7, 1978.png
Frank Zappa & L. Shankar in Berlin, 1978

The group disbanded in 1978 and as Shankar put it, ‘I felt enough time wasn’t given to rehearsals and I wanted to do it right’. [15] During this period, Shankar took on the role of playing the electric violin and toured alongside Frank Zappa, [21] succeeding Jean-Luc Ponty in the position. The experience led to Zappa producing and contributing lyrics for his debut 1979 American solo album, Touch Me There. In 1979, Shankar briefly joined McLaughlin's One Truth Band, which also included Fernando Saunders on bass, Stu Goldberg on keyboards, and Tony Smith on drums, to record the studio album, Electric Dreams.

Shakti performing with Larry Coryell, in India, 1982 Shakti performing with Larry Coryell, standing in for John (who had injured his hand) at a concert in India in 1982.jpg
Shakti performing with Larry Coryell, in India, 1982

In 1982 during the brief Shakti Reunion tour in India, Shankar (on the double violin) performed with Larry Coryell, alongside Zakir Hussain & TH Vikku Vinakaram. Coryell filled in when McLaughlin had injured one of his playing fingers. [25] Shakti regrouped again in 1997 under the name Remember Shakti . However, the new line-up excluded Shankar.

1979: Touch Me There by Zappa Records

Frank Zappa & L Shankar during the production of "Touch Me There" by Zappa Records Frank Zappa & L Shankar during the production of "Touch Me There" by Zappa Records.jpg
Frank Zappa & L Shankar during the production of "Touch Me There" by Zappa Records

Shankar met Frank Zappa in 1978 while they were both working at a pop festival in Germany [26] and during a casual jam session, Zappa extended an invitation for him to play with his band in New York. Following the dissolution of Shakti, Shankar toured briefly with Zappa, which resulted in him signing the violinist to his label. [21] As per Zappa, “The reason I wanted to sign him is because I like the way he plays”. [27] In 1979, they released 'Touch Me There,' an album that featured Shankar's electric five-string violin and vocals alongside guitarist Phil Palmer and drummer Simon Phillips. The album was produced in England, featuring a British rhythm section. Most of the compositions were Shankar's, while Zappa handled the arrangements and wrote the lyrics that were included in the album. [28] According to Zappa, “it's got a lot of stuff that's' definitely going to hit the radio right where it lives.” [27]

“Shankar's probably the best violinist in the world; he's really incredible.”
— Frank Zappa,BAM Magazine, October 5, 1979

Initially, Shankar had entered into a 10-album deal with Zappa Records. However, a conflict between the distributors and Zappa led to the eventual termination of the agreement. [29]

1980 - 1985: Who’s To Know, Vision & Song For Everyone

From left: Zakir Hussain, Manfred Eicher, L.Shankar, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman Zakir Hussain, Manfred Eicher, L.Shankar, Umayalpuram Sivaraman.jpg
From left: Zakir Hussain, Manfred Eicher, L.Shankar, Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman

In the 1980s, Shankar released several albums under the ECM label, his first being "Who’s To Know," featuring his double violin and accompanied by Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman on mridangam and Zakir Hussain on tabla. According to ECM reviewer, Tyran Grillo, the album “will ever remain an ECM jewel” [30] owing to Shankar's signature style and melodic sensibility. In 1984, Shankar released his second ECM album, ‘Vision’, accompanied by saxophonist Jan Garbarek and trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg. In an AllMusic review, Richard S. Ginell describes the album as "an ethereal tour-de-force” that is reassuringly easy to listen to. According to J.D. Considine from The Washington Post, Shankar's “solo recordings avoid entirely the excesses of fusion jazz” [31] and instead, “pursue a plangent serenity… that suggests a transcendence unheard in jazz.” [31] ‘Song for Everyone’ was released in 1985 and remains the most memorable among his ECM releases. According to Shankar, “It is a highlight that stays with me, the melodies keep coming up in my playing”. [21]

1986 - 1989: The Epidemics and other ventures

From the BBC documentary, Bombay and All that Jazz, 1992 Bombay and All that Jazz ( ROTW) 1992.jpg
From the BBC documentary, Bombay and All that Jazz, 1992

Between 1986 and 1989, Shankar released 3 albums: The Epidemics (1986), Do What You Do (1987), & Eye Catcher (1989) under the pop/rock group The Epidemics ( previously known as Sadhu, after his pet rabbit) [13] In 1987, the three former members of Shakti - Shankar, Zakir, and Vikku undertook a brief tour as Peshkar with Larry Coryell in Britain. Concurrently, Shankar joined SXL, a jazz fusion collective initiated in the same year by composer Bill Laswell. This ensemble featured a core group of musicians, including Aïyb Dieng, Ronald Shannon Jackson, along with the internationally acclaimed South Korean percussion quartet, SamulNori. The performances, which took place on August 1 and 2, collectively attracted an audience of nearly 30,000. These events were preserved through live recordings with Sony releasing SXL Live in Japan (1987) and Celluloid Records presenting SXL Into the Outlands (1987).

1990 - 1995: Classical solo albums & Raga Aberi

Shankar released several Indian classical albums in the 1990s including Nobody Told Me (1990), Pancha Nadai Pallavi (1990), Soul Searcher (1990) and Raga Aberi (1995). His Pancha Nadai Pallavi peaked at No.9 on the Billboard top ten world music charts for three consecutive  months – making it the first traditional Indian record ever hit those charts. [4] The album consists of two tracks, the first is the rendition of ragam “Sankarabharanam" on the double violin and vocal  without percussion and the second accompanied by Zakir Hussain on tabla and Vikku Vinayakram on ghatam. According to ECM Reviewer, Tyron Grillo describes Shankar's playing as “a language of the utmost depth and beauty” [32] and that while traditionalists in the Carnatic music sphere may find Shankar's modern touches unconventional, “the music soars in ways that far outsoar its criticism.” [32] In 1995, Shankar released Raga Aberi, a critically acclaimed rendition of ragam “Abheri”, featuring his original composition set in a 9 1/2 beat cycle. Within the same year, the album garnered a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best World Music Album" category.

1995 - 2006: WOMAD & Special projects

Shankar’s band collaborated in Peter Gabriel's 1995 WOMAD shows in Spain and toured globally, performing in several humanitarian events including The Concert for Global Harmony, Fiddlefest (a benefit for the Harlem Center For Strings) and Nelson Mandela's 80th Birthday celebrations. During this period, Shankar subsequently released the pop-oriented album One in a Million (2001) and the world music album Celestial Body (2004). Shankar wrote ‘Palaces' as a song dedicated to children worldwide. The song was performed in Peter Gabriel’s Secret World Tour and the second annual World Peace Music Awards in San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza, to benefit all the orphans of war and terrorism. In September 2004, he received the World Peace Music Award [33] and in that same year, he composed and performed vocals and double violins on Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, along with composers Jack Lenz and John Debney.

Shankar has also performed with Elton John, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Yoko Ono, Stewart Copeland, John Waite, Charly García, Steve Vai, Ginger Baker, Nils Lofgren, Jonathan Davis and The SFA and Sting.

Discography

Filmography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zakir Hussain (musician)</span> Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer

Ustad Zakir Hussain is an Indian tabla player, composer, percussionist, music producer and film actor. He is the eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha. He is widely considered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John McLaughlin (musician)</span> English jazz fusion guitarist, founder of the Mahavishnu Orchestra (born 1942)

John McLaughlin, also known as Mahavishnu, is an English guitarist, bandleader, and composer. A pioneer of jazz fusion, his music combines elements of jazz with rock, world music, Western classical music, flamenco, and blues. After contributing to several key British groups of the early 1960s, McLaughlin made Extrapolation, his first album as a bandleader, in 1969. He then moved to the U.S., where he played with drummer Tony Williams's group Lifetime and then with Miles Davis on his electric jazz fusion albums In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, Live-Evil, and On the Corner. His 1970s electric band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused electric jazz and rock with Indian influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U. Srinivas</span> Musical artist

Uppalapu Srinivas was an Indian mandolin player in Carnatic classical music and composer. U. Srinivas was called the Mozart of classical Indian music and he was a child prodigy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L. Subramaniam</span> Indian musician

Subramaniam Lakshminarayana is an Indian violinist, composer and conductor, trained in the classical Carnatic music tradition and Western classical music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shakti (band)</span> Jazz fusion band formed in 1973

Shakti is a fusion band formed by English guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian violin player L. Shankar, percussionists Zakir Hussain and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram in 1973, initially under the stage name "Turiyananda Sangit". The band played acoustic fusion music which combined Indian music with elements of jazz. The band's name means, in English, "creative intelligence, beauty, and power."

Indo jazz is a musical genre consisting of jazz, classical and Indian influences. Its structure and patterns are based on Indian music with typical jazz improvisation overlaid. While the term itself may be comparatively recent, the concept dates at least to the mid-1950s. Musicians including John Coltrane, Yusef Lateef and others reflect Indian influences.

Remember Shakti is a quintet which combines elements of traditional Indian music with elements of jazz. The band consists of English guitarist John McLaughlin, and Zakir Hussain (tabla), U. Srinivas (deceased) (mandolin), Shankar Mahadevan (vocals), and V. Selvaganesh, who are of Indian descent. The band's name is derived from John Mclaughlin's acoustic Indian fusion band Shakti which was active in the 1970s. McLaughlin and Hussain were also members of that band, along with violinist L. Shankar and percussionists T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram and R. Raghavan. The word Shakti translates in Sanskrit to "power" or "goddess of power".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakshmi Shankar</span> Musical artist

Lakshmi Shankar was an Indian singer and a noted Hindustani classical. Born into a south Indian Hindu family, she became an outstanding Hindustani vocalist of the Patiala Gharana and married Rajendra Shankar, brother of Uday Shankar, a Bengali by birth. She was known for her performances of khyal, thumri, and bhajan. She was the sister-in-law of sitar player Ravi Shankar and the mother-in-law of violinist L. Subramaniam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T. H. Vinayakram</span> Musical artist

Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram, also known as Vikku Vinayakram, is an Indian percussionist. He is also known as the God of ghatam. He plays Carnatic music with the ghatam, an earthen pot, and is credited with popularising the ghatam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balabhaskar</span> Indian musician

Balabhaskar Chandran was an Indian musician, violinist, composer and record producer. He is best known for promoting fusion music in South India. Hailing from a musically affluent family, he was introduced to the world of instrumental music at the age of three by his uncle B. Sasikumar, a laureate in Carnatic music.

L. Shankar has served as an instrumentalist, composer, record producer, arranger and programmer on several recordings. He has released a number of his own recordings, in addition to appearing on other artists' albums. All credits are for violin, except where noted. This is not an exhaustive list of Shankar's works, but a select few titles.

<i>Natural Elements</i> (Shakti album) 1977 studio album by Shakti

Natural Elements is a studio album by the world fusion band Shakti. It was released in 1977 on CBS Records.

<i>A Handful of Beauty</i> 1976 studio album by Shakti

A Handful of Beauty is the first studio album released by the world fusion band Shakti in 1976.

<i>Whos to Know</i> 1981 studio album by Shankar

Who's to Know is the second studio album by violinist Shankar, recorded in November 1980 and released on ECM the following year. The trio features percussionists Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman and Zakir Hussain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shankar Tucker</span> American clarinetist and music composer (born 1987)

Shankar Tucker is an American clarinetist and music composer. He rose to fame with the popularity of his YouTube music channel "The ShrutiBox".

<i>Remember Shakti</i> (album) 1999 live album by Remember Shakti

Remember Shakti is a live album by the world fusion band Remember Shakti recorded in England over four nights, and released in 1999 on the Verve label. The reformed group features original members John McLaughlin (guitar), Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Vikku Vinayakram (ghatam), who are joined by Hariprasad Chaurasia on the bansuri. The album reached number 14 in the Billboard Top Jazz albums chart.

<i>Remember Shakti – The Believer</i> 2000 live album by Remember Shakti

Remember Shakti – The Believer is a live album by the world fusion band Remember Shakti, that was released in 2000 on the Verve label. The live set features John McLaughlin on guitar, electric mandolinist U. Srinivas, Vikku Selvaganesh playing ghatam, and tabla player Zakir Hussain. The album peaked number 20 in the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart.

<i>Remember Shakti – Saturday Night in Bombay</i> 2001 live album by Remember Shakti

Remember Shakti – Saturday Night in Bombay is a live album by the world fusion band Remember Shakti released in November 2001 on the Verve label. This concert features John McLaughlin on guitar, U. Srinivas on electric mandolin, Vikku Selvaganesh on ghatam, kanjira and mridangam, Zakir Hussain on tabla and a number of guest musicians, including vocalist Shankar Mahadeven, slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya and drummer Sivamani.

George Brooks is an American saxophonist known for combining jazz and Indian classical music. He is the founder of the jazz fusion groups Summit, Aspada, Bombay Jazz, the Raga Bop Trio, and Elements.

<i>Raga Aberi</i> 1995 studio album by L. Shankar

Raga Aberi is an album by the Indian musician L. Shankar, released in 1995. He is credited with Zakir Hussain and Vikku Vinayakram. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best World Music Album".

References

  1. ↑ Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 356. ISBN   0-85112-580-8.
  2. 1 2 3 Ferreira, Verus (14 November 2014). ""The double necked violin has a full orchestral range"". Music Unplugged. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Underwood, Lee (2 November 1978). "Profile: L.Shankar" . Retrieved 15 December 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Bowing Into Infinity". Hinduism Today. 1 July 1991. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. ↑ "38th Annual GRAMMY Awards". grammy.com. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 "How Jonathan Davis became "a 400-year-old vampire" to write songs for Queen Of The Damned". Metal Hammer. 7 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  7. ↑ "The Greatest Violinists of Popular Music". digitaldreamdoor.com. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  8. ↑ Sankaranarayanan, S (6 November 2014). "A Birth Centenary Tribute". Sruti. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fernandes, Naresh (20 March 2018). "Shankar's New Avatar". Mansworld. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 "WBTG - Reviews: Dr. L. Shankar Talks". www.italway.it. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Sai, Veejai (23 July 2016). "The doctor who became the international face of Carnatic violin". The News Minute. Retrieved 28 August 2017.
  12. 1 2 Dongre, Archana (1 March 2001). "Visionary Violinist". HinduismToday. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schaefar, John (August 1985). "New Sounds: L. Shankar". SPIN. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Shankar - Ultimate Eurythmics:". Ultimate Eurythmics Archives. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Menon, Priya (14 July 2019). "A journey that began with 108 coconuts". The Times Of India. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  16. ↑ "Ph.D. Dissertations in Ethnomusicology, Music - Wesleyan University". www.wesleyan.edu. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 R, Varadarajan (1 July 1984). "Interview: L. Shankar - Shakti's Music is Shakti's Music". Sruti. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  18. 1 2 WebIndia (6 March 2015). "L. Shanker - World renowned violinist & vocalist". WebIndia 123. Retrieved 7 May 2022.
  19. ↑ Limnios, Michael (14 October 2021). "Q&A with legendary electric violinist & vocalist L. Shankar". Blues GR. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  20. ↑ Palmer, Robert (11 April 1979). "Violinist: L. Shankar". The New York Times. p. 21. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Pietaro, John (April 2022). "Artist Feature: L.Shankar" (PDF). Robert Browning Associates. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  22. 1 2 3 Menon, Raghava (30 April 1984). "L.Shankar: A violinist of rare quality". India Today. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  23. ↑ Sarkar, Avijit (6 December 2004). "Shankar & Gingger". Abstract Logix. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  24. 1 2 Basu, Rith (6 January 2019). "Grammy winner returns to his 'best' audience". The Telegraph India. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  25. ↑ Kusnur, Narendra (24 February 2017). "Farewell, Larry Coryell". The Hindu. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  26. ↑ Denyer, Ralph (May 1979). "2000 Mots". Sound International. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  27. 1 2 Forte, Dan (1 November 1979). "Frank Zappa interview". M.I. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  28. ↑ Branton, Michael (5 October 1979). "Frank Zappa Interview". BAM Magazine. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  29. ↑ Lint, Mark (19 February 2022). "L. Shankar's World of Violin and Voice". Nakedly Examined Music. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  30. ↑ Grillo, Tyran (11 February 2010). "Shankar: Who's to Know' (ECM 1195)". ECM Reviews. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
  31. 1 2 Considine, J.D (25 July 1984). "Jazz With an Accent". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  32. 1 2 Grillo, Tyran (4 April 2012). "SHANKAR: PANCHA NADAI PALLAVI (ECM 1407)". ECM Reviews. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  33. ↑ "Shankar and Gingger". Abstract Logix. 6 December 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  34. ↑ "Celestial Body - Lakshminarayana Shankar | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic .
  35. ↑ "BBC World Service - The Documentary, Bombay Jazz". BBC. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  36. ↑ "Bombay and Jazz – A documentary 1992". Bluerhythm.wordpress.com. 12 June 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.