I’ll never forget the first time I heard Sitar master Ravi Shankar. In the early 1970’s, I was a young Army Lieutenant, stationed in Seattle – and had recently invested in my first quality sound system, to include one of those old monster Teac reel-to-reel tape decks. Of course, I then dashed right out to shop for taped recordings in a local music store, where I was soon drawn to the “on sale” bin. There – among some classic jazz recordings – I spotted a Ravi Shankar tape from one of his many West coast festival appearances. I hadn’t paid any attention to his reputation, since it was then most prominently associated with George Harrison (one of his “disciples”) and the Beatles. Being something of an elitist, pop-scorning “classical snob” back then, I remember thinking he couldn’t possibly be worth much; but I was still mildly curious – and, hey, the price was right.
Back home, I lost no time in spinning the tape. And, right from the first Raga’s opening meditation, I was totally entranced: the sitar’s sensual slow melody, with its microtonally-embellished notes, sang a very human song that penetrated straight to my heart, while ravishing my ear with cascades of droning tones and glittering overtones. The tempo soon picked up, propelled by entrance of the tabla: the only drum I know that speaks with a near-human voice. And then the music careened into its fabulous, frantic finale: a fleet and often fitful – but ultimately joyful affirmation of life, chock-full of potent emotion.
INSTANT convert! Never had the music of such a radically different culture grabbed me so forcefully and touched me so deeply. It transported me into rarefied musical dimensions just as effectively as the music of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven ever had – only through a different kind of “door.” I immediately went on the prowl for his other recordings, as well as whatever literature I could find about this (to me) “new” treasure’s ancient traditions and practice. And in the years since, I (and SO many others) have remained – like Harrison – his faithful disciples. Indeed, Ravi – India’s greatest-ever cultural ambassador – will ever continue to be my own most beloved personal world-music “guru.”
As with any truly great musician whose corporeal time among us is done, his art endures. His deepest essence – his divine spark – lives on; not only in his recordings, but in his daughters: his brilliant fellow sitar virtuoso Anoushka, and the wonderful jazz chanteuse Norah Jones. It also burns within his many students, and the souls of countless music lovers everywhere, whose lives he has touched … and changed.
You simply can’t attach a dollar value to great music – of any kind. Still, we at Delos want to do what we can to honor this great artist and spread his unique brands of musical beauty and fulfillment as widely as possible. We are thus pleased to humbly offer you a very special price on the single Ravi Shankar album we are privileged to claim in our catalog: Ravi Shankar – Live at Monterey – 1967 (RS 0101), as well as on other albums comprising our Indian Music series. At $9.99 apiece ($7.99 for the Ravi Shankar release), they’re all bargains. If you’re a newcomer to Shankar (or if your collection lack his rare artistry), you simply won’t believe how much his music can enrich your life. I only hope that (just like that snooty young lieutenant did forty years ago) you will find that “the price is right.”
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