Remember those great CTI albums with strings and arrangements by Claus Oberman back in the 60s and 70s? Imagine if Henri Mancini wrote and arranged for Bollywood, and Oberman did the final touches, and you get a hint of how marvelous this mix of Western pop, jazz, Brazilian and Curry Western creates a sound that is both inspiring, gracious and downright enjoyable.
The Sachal Studios orchestra includes a large violin section along with Nafees Ahmed Khan/sitar, Ballu Khan/tabla, and both Rafiq Ahmed & Najaf Ali on dholaks/percussion. UK Musicians include Derek Watkins/tp, Seve Lodder/b, Sally Price/harp, Jaohn parracelli/g, Bangalore Prakash/ghatam and Kandiah Sthaparanatha/jewsharp along with a chorus. Together, the take pieces ranging from Stevie Wonder to Pat Metheny (“To The End of The World”) with Jobim’s “Wave” in between, and make it sound like a soundtrack to the movie Sholay. “You’ve Got it Bad, Girl” is filled with enticing percussion and Central Asian strings, and Dave Brubeck’s “Rondo A La Turk” has a whirling dervish of strings dancing around in circles. The take of “The Pink Panther” has tablas running wild, and you have to ask yourself if this is done tongue in cheek, or is it visionary? “Eleanor Rigby” has the tablas prancing like mice in the attic while the Indian flavor of ”Moonlight in Vermont” will make you think more of mango pickles than maple syrup. Brel’s “If You Go Away” have the strings yearning along, whereas the Christian hymn “Morning Has Broken” makes you think of a sunrise on the Ganges. Even after the novelty wears off, you’re left with a creative and original work you’re sure to return to over and over.
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