Sampradaya

Amazon.com
Sampradaya is the passing of tradition from master to disciple, from one generation to the next. As the undisputed master of the Indian santoor, Shiv Kumar Sharma has a lot to pass on to his youngest son, Rahul, who joins him on this recording. Rahul is equal to the task. The two santoors meld beautifully on the extended Hindustani raga "Janasammohini." The shimmering sound of the hammer dulcimers lends a relaxing quality as the Sharmas explore the dreamy, ethereal, serene alaap section of the raga. Tabla maestro Shafaat Ahmed Khan joins in on the second section, providing the rhythmic base on which the father and son weave increasingly complex and beautifully realized patterns. Building slowly and growing in intensity, the second and third parts of the raga feature inspired improvisation that glitters with lightning-fast interplay. --Jeff Grubb

Tracks:

I. Alap/II. Jorh/III. Jhalla
I. Rupak Taal/II. Adha Taal
Teen Taal

Amazon.com

Sampradaya is the passing of tradition from master to disciple, from one generation to the next. As the undisputed master of the Indian santoor, Shiv Kumar Sharma has a lot to pass on to his youngest son, Rahul, who joins him on this recording. Rahul is equal to the task. The two santoors meld beautifully on the extended Hindustani raga "Janasammohini." The shimmering sound of the hammer dulcimers lends a relaxing quality as the Sharmas explore the dreamy, ethereal, serene alaap section of the raga. Tabla maestro Shafaat Ahmed Khan joins in on the second section, providing the rhythmic base on which the father and son weave increasingly complex and beautifully realized patterns. Building slowly and growing in intensity, the second and third parts of the raga feature inspired improvisation that glitters with lightning-fast interplay. --Jeff Grubb

Customer Reviews:

Exquisite Father & Son Santoor Duet.......2007-06-06

The exquisite raga janasammohini played on santoors (hammered dulcimers), by Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, India's premier santoor player, and his younger son Rahul. An incredibly intricate woven tapestry of sound. One of the most beautiful specimins of Indian classical music available in the U.S.

Wonderful Introduction to the Santoor.......2006-09-11

I had the privelege to see Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and his son, Rahul Sharma, in jugalbhandi last evening at the University of Maryland, College Park. After listening to their music for the past four years, I can say that the experience of seeing them live in concert was extraordinary. For anyone who has not seen Indian classical music live in concert, the experience is one of almost pure joy in that the artists play together and 'feed' off of one another to enhance their performance. They almost seem to push one another to come up with more and more creative variations on all the raags they play.

This album was the first santoor album I purchased. I had never before heard the instrument before nor had I listened to anything but Ravi and Anoushka Shankar. This album was an eye-opener and it quickly became one of my favorites. The raag, Janasamohini, is an evening composition that is best listened to during the evening hours (though you can listen to it as and when you please). With two santoors, the tune can often become a mish mash if the artists aren't in sync but in the case of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and Rahul Sharma, they are always in sync and always having a wonderful time playing together. You can see it in their expressions.

The raag on the album is broken into the three parts that a traditional raag is broken into. Each part is linked by the basic notes of the raag. The first part introduces the tune and helps establish the mood. The second part adds the tabla and rhythm and the final part is the conclusion of the piece which is often played at rapid speed. The flow of music in this piece is so good that one can hardly tell where father ends and son begins. I highly recommend this CD to anyone looking to get into Indian classical music. You can't do much better than the santoor stylings of two generations.

Sampradaya.......2003-01-08

I bought this disc after hearing Shiv Kumar Sharma play on Shakti-Saturday night in Bombay with John Mclaughlin,which I highly reccomend.This is a fine disc but I have to say that on the second Raga the tabla player loses it as far as I can hear.
He is neither playing in sympathy with or even in time with the santoors.I find he really spoils the Raga for me and I am suprised that the track made it on to the disc.Apart from that I really enjoy this disc and would have rated it higher but for some wayward percussion.

Don't make this your first Shivkumar Sharma album.......2002-12-28

I have been a fan of Sharma's since the 1970's. Still listen mostly to ragas on cassettes and an LP from India. I was VERY disappointed in the "Sampradaya" album: I don't think the father and son integrate very well, and I never felt the release of streams of melodic invention I expect from Shivkumar Sharma: he seems to always hold himself back in order to let his son keep up.... If you buy it now & disagree, let me know. Get "Rag Madhuvanti & Rag Misra Tilang" instead

Magnificent.......2002-04-08

I have to admit that I was a little doubtful when I purchased this CD. I have long admired the work of Shivkumar Sharma. His recording (with Zakir Hussain) of Rag Madhuvanti and Rag Misra Tilang (on the Nimbus label) remains one of my favorite CDs in my whole library, period. But I was afraid that the sound of two santoors would be too muddy. I underestimated the abilities of father and son to mesh fully on this extended composition. It is encouraging that the next generation shows such promise. This is truly wonderful music.