I Change I Am The Same
author: Ben Naga
Along with the now well established violin (foremost contemporary exponent Shankar?) and the gradual extablishment of the mandolin as an accepted instrument for carnatic interpretation thanks to the superlatively talented U Srinivas, a third "Western" instrument, the saxophone, is heading in the same direction. In this case the main impulse seems to have been Kadri Gopalnath - already a man whose music I enjoy. Here we hear his young disciple Prasant Radhakrishnan already demonstrating a firm grasp of the techniques and the possibilities and stretching out towards wherever the muse will take him. I think we may well arrive in time at that happy state where the pupil comes to exceed the master. Indeed it has been said thet wherever this does NOT occur then both have failed. I hear no need to fear for that on this evidence however. Buy with confidence (and at $5 how can you lose?)
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Stunning and unique music!
author: Maria Radeva
« Swara Sudha » was my first contact with Carnatic music – I did not know this kind of music existed before I met Prasant. When I got the CD I did not know what to expect, I guess I was a bit afraid the music would be too specific and that it would be difficult to like it.
The first time I listened to the CD was in the darkness – I wanted to get absorbed in the sounds. The music was intense, absorbing, magicalc I loved it from this very first time.
My whole room was filled with some kind of unknown and mystical sublimity. I could feel the presence of sophisticated styles and performers and yet the music could reach my soul and fill me up with deep emotions. I had never imagined that saxophone could sound so fascinating, so powerful and yet tender. There are brilliant, unique and capturing moments in each piece – moments where you would say to yourself gThis is fantastic, a masterpiece! How does he manage to breathe?h
The first composition captured me with its intensity – at moments it sounds like a dialog between the two main instruments – the more powerful saxophone and the more feminine violin, at some other moments they sound more aggressive and as if competing with each other. I find this impressive!
Each piece surprises you in its own way, but not only in itself but in relation to the rest of the compositions. You feel like some of them have something in common, but they all have their own mood and one never feels a limiting sameness. The fifth track is for me the most beautiful one. Both the saxophone and the violin start somehow timidly. Then gradually the saxophone gathers more and more vigor, while the voice of the violin is still like a shadow. Stunning!
I kept listening to the album every single day for weeks and every time I would discover something new and unique.
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wow!
author: archana
when i first heard of this c.d. i thought it would be weird but it is awesome!
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Fluid and Spontaneous, filled with Energy and Song
author: Steve Cheng
This CD was my first exposure to carnatic music. In all honesty, I had no idea what to expect, but luckily, to my surprise, I was pleasantly rewarded. The music is completely unique to anything that we've become used to hearing in America, but the melodies sing so organically that you can easily pick up on it. The rhythmic force behind it is very solid, and yet, has a degree of freedom to it that makes it sound very liberated. Improvisation is the real spark of this CD. Prasant's playing is filled with creativity and a strong sense of song when he is improvising, and the group is sensitive and responsive. Truly a prodigy of this music, Prasant has made a wonderfully musical CD that will appeal to anyone from any musical background.
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