In October 2011, at the age of 91, Ravi Shankar invited his long-time tabla accompanist, Tanmoy Bose, to his home in Encinitas, California for an informal recording session. Over four days in Shankar´s living room, they recorded seven different ragas. The resulting music is pure Shankar, combining his deep musical experience and brilliant technique with the passion he brings to live performance. The first of two releases, The Living Room Sessions Part 1, consists of four tracks that span a wide range of Indian classical styles – from the opening Raga Malgunji, a meditative raga reflecting on the distance between the human and the supreme; to the lighter, lyrical Raga Khamaj and Raga Kedara; and closing with Raga Satyajit, a spontaneous raga dedicated to the late director and friend of Shankar, Satyajit Ray, that is both melodic and rhythmic. The seamless musical dialog between Shankar and Bose creates a uniquely stirring listening experience. Both intimate and masterly, The Living Room Sessions Part 1 is an invitation into the home and musical genius of Ravi Shankar. Release of a second recording is scheduled for autumn 2012.
