Ananda Shankar, the son of Uday Shankar and the nephew of the Sitar wizard Ravi Shankar was probably the only musician from India who created the most soulful and melodic fusion music by combining the elements of Indian classical with Western Rock that also gave rise to a new style hitherto unheard of.

I am taking this opportunity to present two of this tracks here for your listening pleasure.

The first one is Mamta (affection) from Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar

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And, the second one is Universal Magic from Bombay Jazz Palace.
Anand Shankar does wonder with a large ensemble of classical instruments on this track that begins with sarangi, glides to sitar before jal tarang starts tinkling. Soon, with the flute in the background, santoor takes over and alternates with sitar.

This one has a sweet resemblance to a tune that seems so well heard of, yet I can't put my finger on it. Can you tell?

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Hi Anurag

It was nice to hear Anand Shankar after a long time....i m u/l one instrumental for you "streets of calcutta" ....
dose anyone have "Akber jewells"

regards

Vikram, good to know that you like his music. I am sorry but I don't have the track Akbar's Jewels. Googling for it tells me that it appears on Melodies from India - Ananda Shankar.

May be some one else can upload it here.


It seems the only albums of Ananda Shankar available now are Walking on, snow flower, and an eponymously titled one with a smattering of tracks common on them.

Do you have Sa-Re-Ga Machan; EMI ECSD-2636; 1981 or I Remember; EMI ECSD-41532; 1983 (reissues "Missing You" EP)?

No i dont have but i m expecting couple of track by him in next week ..as soon as i will get them i will upload them for you.....

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Oh My god Its Here !!!!!

I m flatterd....Thanks You Soooooooo Much....Unni Ji !

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Vikram, this is what happens when the kuber of music walks in! The ether of the surrounding turns into notes and rhythms and immersed in this ether, sensations become melodies and our soul listens to Ananda Shankar's heavenly music.

Thank you, Unni and please let us listen to more of "I Remember" while we remember him. May his soul rest in peace!

Anurag:

When something so unmerited elicits such effusive prose, surely you should consider rom's suggestion to write articles.

You mean your contribution here is unmerited or Ananda Shankar's music is undeserving? In case of former, I'm willing to testify against it as much as others here would do. And the latter could be discounted as your moment of indiscretion, which I don't think is the case anyway.

I am no authority to write on Rafi saaheb. You and a few others here are the best candidates to do so.

"Unmerited" meaning my uploading a couple of tracks. As for Ananda Shankar, I was disappointed I could not find "Sa-Re-Ga Machan". I was positive I had it.

Anurag & Vikram:

Would you agree that Ananda Shankar was the pioneer in Fusion Music in India? I believe his music did not meet with the approval of his uncle Ravi Shankar.

Here is another track, which you will hopefully enjoy:

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Unni, I am reasonably sure that his uncle and dad would not approve of the sort of music that is on this album from which "Walking On" is taken. But then history offers a different story.

I have heard this album which was cut just before Ananda Shankar's death in collaboration with an Asian underground (whatever that term means!) music group called State of Bengal led by Saf Zaman and frankly I think that the melody was a little lost on this one. His 70s albums in my opinion are the best where in he employs the moog (analog synthesizer) which produce retro but very warm and rich sound.

I think "I remember" which I have n't heard completely except the track you uploaded is a good example of Anand Shankar's work, where he fits Indian melodies very well with Western Harmonic structures.

As an interesting aside, I had read that Anoushka Shankar is big into ambient, lounge, trance and downtempo music -- she doesn't produce anything like that but that's what she listens to all the time when she is home. I wonder how she and her dad live in the same house if Ravi Shankar did n't like fusion stuff, even once before. But then again, he himself has collaborated with London Philharmonic Orchestra, Yehudi Menuhin , George Fenton in Gandhi and played at that mesmerizing Woodstock 69 festival so his aversion to Western rock seems a weak possibility.

Indeed Anand Shanker's music was own of its kind and can be termed as pioneer of the Fusion music in india....unfortunately he dont have much albums in his account to make him famous as others may be he died too early ......but we cant simply forget his contribution to the indian music..

I got these lines while i was reading about Anand Shanker on web

" A more serious manner of fusion is to use variety of instruments from various countries all together. Anand Shanker initiated such a valid fusion of Indian instruments with western instruments, coming together with Jimi Hendrix in 1969, which was a great success. Mixing mridangam guitar and sitar with jazz and rock drums, while staying within scientific parameters of musical sound, was a feat. Anand’s famous uncle, Pandit Ravishanker did the same with Yehudi Menuhin. Later, the western composer confessed that maintaining the purity of notes against the Indian musical system was a tough job. Fusion, in Indian context has mainly been adopting western sounds without jarring the ears. Before Anand Shanker music directors like C. Ramchandra, Salil Chaudhary, S.D.Barman were few others who tried blending western melodies to Indian scale, pretty successfully. Also, musicians like Vijay Raghav Rao, Balsara and Vinaychandra Modgalya, who laid stress upon orchestration of Indian instruments and experimented with choral singing, paved the way for a meaningful interaction between Indian and western sounds."

Anand Shankar's music really set me on a nostalgic trip..

It was the only fusion music at that time. What a great mix of drums, table, guitar and sitar...

Another album, Hariprasad Chaurasia's tribute to Osho was also a great fusion experience.

On my next trip to India, I am definitely going to try to get these gems..

Anand Shanker had a great track called "River". Would really appreciate is if someone could upload it.

Enjoy, jigri1.

River - Ananda Shankar

Thank you so much Anurag ji. Can't thank you enough.

While growing up, my bengali neighbour had a a massive HIFI system. He used to listen to Anand Shankar a lot.

This really brings back so much memories..

Yesterday I stumbled into a CD by Ananda Shankar called Melodies Of India while looking for something completely different. Have been listening to it after recovering from the (euphoric) shock.

Did a search on HF and found this thread (how come I'm not surprised). Will be delighted to upload all/any from this that anyone wants.

I hope I don't sound too greedy....

Kindly upload all at your convenience..

jigri1 Ji,

In this case, greed is good. Here goes 1 and 2.

Number 2.

zippoo ji,

I now understand the euphoric shock.... Thanks for the beautiful tracks...

Number 3.

Number 4.

Number 5.

Number 6.

Number 7.

Number 8.

This one is special, a haunting composition symbolizing personal loss. True Genius.

zippoo,

Do you have "I Remember; EMI ECSD-41532; 1983" (reissue "Missing You" EP) by Ananda Shankar?

anurag Ji,

For now my collection of Ananda Shankar is limited to this CD. I am very, very familiar with his works, so this situation will be rectified soon. Stay tuned.

Number 10.

Number 11.

Number 12.

Number 13.

Number 14.

Number 15.

Number 16.

Number 17.

Number 18. Last One.