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INDIAN MUSIC FORUM ARCHIVES: Sitar Forum: FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER

 

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rgrs
FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 29, 2004 03:37 a.m.

Who is your favorite sitar player and why?
Jerry
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 29, 2004 07:15 a.m.

Without doubt for me it's Nikhil Banerjee. Some of his melodic inventions are so inspired as to seem to come from another world. Quite the most beautiful music I have ever heard.

Honorary mention to Ravi, of course, and to Manilal Nag.

I'm preparing to duck the brickbats as I say this, but I find the players of the Imdadkhani Gharana difficult. I have tried hard to love Vilayat Khan without success so far.
Of course, this says much more about me and my lack of knowledge than it does about Vilayat Khan and his family, whom I recognise are magnificent players.

Jerry
Aanaddha
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 29, 2004 10:49 a.m.

Not a household name, but if you ever get the rare opportunity to hear Deepak Choudhury of Kolkata it's a real treat. His best qualities are similiar to Nikhilda's. He toured extensively with Raviji and was for a long time his prized student. Some say he was his teacher's equal, some say he was better. He was eventually nudged out to make room for Anoushka.


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Remco
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 29, 2004 02:26 p.m.

My favourite is Nikhil Banerjee, amazing touch, very lyrical, sweet tone. I've never heard a bad recording from him. Even if I would listen to a recording made over the telephone I would be spellbound.

The best player I've witnessed on stage (I've never seen Nikhil Banerjee play) was Nishad Khan about two months ago: a monster player. Stunning to see a musician play such difficult stuff with such ease. Inhuman!!

Also a great player: Ashok Pathak. I had the privilege to attend a surbahar-concert 4 weeks ago in Brussels. A very atmospheric player with a great touch. An underrated player!

Peace,

Remco
K.K.
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 30, 2004 01:21 p.m.

The best I can do is break it down to 4.

Nikhil Banerjee for his lyrical playing.
Manilal Nag for his tone.
Ravi Shankar for composition.
Shahid Parvez for the ability to warp time and space.
AJ
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 29, 2004 08:40 p.m.

Nihkil Banerjee, the man makes literal magic. .!
He weaves spells, I swear!

Manilal Nag and his daughter Mita, same reason. . . . . . .

Then of course, there's this great guy in Germany named "Johnny Sitar Watson", really helpful and his clips blow me away!Always glad to hear from him!

Then a guy named "Durga Prasad" in UK, don't hear from this fine fellow very often, but much good advice and excellent tracks, as well. . . . .!

And my all time favorite, "Yescando64" (could he possibly be of hispanic descent?)
This guy really cooks!Really knows his stuff, too!!!

Those are my all time favorites!

AJ : )
Jay M
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER Apr 30, 2004 08:20 p.m.

1. Ustad Vilayat Khan - For his ability to effortlessly produce subtle beauty and sheer force from the instrument. His invention and influence on the progress of the instument and its sound. For giving us the Gayaki ang school of playing

2. Ustad Shahid Parvez - An amazing combination of musicality and technique. Takes the sitar to another level of warp speed but still plays beautiful alap and Jhor sections.

3. Pt. Nikhil Banerjee - From the first note you have goosebumps, chills and a big grin all at once. Everything is so fluid and melodic.

4. Pt. Ravi Shanker - The living legend. Get the DVD on his life. . .so inspirational!

5. Ustad Shujaat Khan - Very sensitive player, monster chops. very good singer as well. VK's son. . .what would you expect?!
Jerry
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 03, 2004 09:38 a.m.

You're right about Shujaat Khan. I should have included him in my list too. He really has a unique sound.

Louis sent me a recording of Shahana Kanada by Shujaat over a year ago now and it's one of my favourite recordings.

Are you still out there Louis?

Jerry
kedar_india_pune
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 04, 2004 08:09 p.m.

Well. .
for me NIKHIL da is like god really. . he is just the best
he really has the best of both the gharanas. .
USTAD SHAID PARVEZ. . .is.for me currently the best living sitar player . . .
Ravi shankar. . . just great at laykari and evrything really
i also like the way purbyan chatterjee is going about his business too. . he is really like nikhil da . .same tonal quality and asthetisim . .and hopefully will be a really mature player in the future
barend
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 14, 2004 05:52 a.m.

One of my personal favourites is Rais Khan.
You don't hear much of him on this forum. But I think he is very underrated. He has a great timing and very lyrical lines.
barend
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 20, 2004 05:23 a.m.

I also forgot to mention Debu Chaudhuri, he is really great and plays with only 17 frets, he plays beautiful "singing" melodies. I only have the cd "only for you". In the booklet of this cd it says that all 6 tracks are in raga kalyani Bilawel, but I think tracks 2 -6 are Dhuns in other ragas, does anyone know this!!!! I can't find this information anywhere. This is a must have recording.
jaym
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 20, 2004 11:36 a.m.

Barend-it is so funny you are mentioning that CD by Debu Chaudry. I think it is track 4, my favorite gat on there! Beautiful melody. I don't think it is Bilawal, maybe kalyan. . .uses tivra Ma at one point. . .
barend
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 22, 2004 04:50 a.m.

I also forgot to mention Subroto Roy Chowdhury, yesterday I went to a concert of him and it really surprised me. Great Alaps.
I had the cd from him playing raga Malkauns but I wasn't impressed (due to the bad sound) but now I have the cd "From dusk to dawn" and this is super!
tarsi
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 22, 2004 08:42 a.m.

Is this Makauns an older recording? Recording quality is sometimes a problem, as some come from cassette recording. Another of Subrotos goodies is "The India Sunset" (Shri/Jhinjoti) ans his Basant Mukhari.
barend
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 22, 2004 02:23 p.m.

No it is not very old, but the sitar sounds a bit distorded and the tabla has too much reverb. And also the playing on the other cd is much better.
tarsi
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 24, 2004 07:17 a.m.

Aha. This Malkauns is an older recording with Asit Pal on Tabla? And Subroto is in Berlin now?
It is striking how ICM recordings sometimes suffer from a . . . rather childish . . fondness of cheap reverks and other studio tricks (there is a bunch that are artificialy made faster and stuff like that).
barend
Re:FAVORITE SITAR PLAYER May 26, 2004 10:24 a.m.

yes it is that recording.
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