Album Notes

Born into a family that has given to Indian music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro, Pandit Jasraj had his initial grooming in music under his father, the Late Pandit Moti Ram ji. He then underwent intensive training under his elder brother and guru, the late Pandit Mani Ram ji. His music has a very subline emotional quality that touches the soul of the listner. He has been guided in this spiritual guru, Late Maharana Shri Jaywant Singhji of Sanand, another doyen of the Mewati gharana.
He has received several titles and award such as PADMA BHUSHAN, SURER GURU , SANGEET MARTAND , SANGEET KALA RATNA, SANGEET NATAK ACADEMY AWARD , DOCTORATE IN MUSIC BY VISHWA UNNAYAN SANSAD (WEST BENGAL) , MAHARASHTRA GAURAV PURASKAR , DINANATH MANGESHKAR AWARD.

Zakir Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country, India, but gained him worldwide fame. The favorite accompanist for many of India's greatest classical musicians and dancers, from Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar to Birju Maharaj and Shivkumar Sharma, he has not let his genius rest there. His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study.

A child prodigy, Zakir was touring by the age of twelve, the gifted son of his great father, tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha. Zakir came to the United States in 1970, embarking on an international career which includes no fewer than 150 concert dates a year. He has composed and recorded many albums and soundtracks, and has received widespread recognition as a composer for his many ensembles and historic collaborations. Most recently, he has composed soundtracks for the films In Custody, Ismail Merchant's directorial debut, Little Buddha by Bernardo Bertolucci, for which Zakir composed, performed and acted as Indian music advisor and Vanaprastham, chosen to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival in May, 1999.

Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia is known internationally as the greatest living master of Bansuri, the North Indian bamboo flute. He is probably the most accessible Hindustani musician who has done a lot to popularize Bansuri and classical music among the masses.
Pt. Chaurasia is a rare combination of innovator and traditionalist. He has significantly expanded the expressive possibilities of North Indian classical flute through his masterful blowing technique. Hariprasad Chaurasia is one of the busiest North Indian classical musicians, regularly traveling and performing throughout the world. The great Indian master of the North Indian Bamboo Flute has won a number of prestigious awards including the Sangeet Natak Academy (1984), Padmabhushan (1992) and Padma Vibhoosan (2000).