In India, the ancient tradition that links nature and man is reflected in her music. Certain ragas were to be played at certain times of the day, or during different seasons.
This recording, featuring master vocalist Dr. Sunil K. Bose, former Director of All India Radio, began at a concert during the California drought of 1977. Though no precipitation was forecast, shortly after the concert, it rained!
We were urged to record Dr. Bose before he left the US in a few days. So I booked studio time, and with no other rehearsal, recorded these ragas.
But as you will experience on this extraordinary recording, there is a universality to this music that speaks to the human condition, regardless of the geographical or meteorological contexts. What started out as a live presentation during the rainmaking ceremonies in California during the 1977 drought has borne fruit as a major contribution to the field of trans-cultural musicology.
In a review in The Hindustan Times Weekly, dated May 7,1978, Krishna Chaitanya writes:“Rendered with classical purity, the incantational quality of the main presentation an Alap in Megh, would be apparent even to sensibilities nurtured in another tradition.”
Truly, Bose’s vocal virtuosity is inspiring. His voice is his “human instrument”; he is a master of his art form in the same class as his compatriots and friends, Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan.
On Side Two, Eastern and Western musical traditions come together as blues blends with Indian raga and jazz. Dr. Bose is joined by Steven Halpern, who plays electric piano, electric bass and electric guitars (through the miracle of multi-track recording facilities). Without compromising the spirit of Indian music, Sunil Bose improvises over a gently pulsing jazz-blues foundation. His use of quarter tone inflection brings a new dimension to this, the only musical art form native to the United States. Yet his enthusiasm and immediate familiarity produces “sound evidence” that the language of music is truly universal.
For those listeners that know Steven Halpern as “the Maestro of Meditative Music”, the emotional intensity of his performance serves notice that his musical heritage has deep and multi-faceted roots.
The compositional aspect of his improvisation is all the more impressive when you realize that each overdub is a first take, with no edits or additions.
As you listen you can feel and hear the love and respect these two master musicians feel for each other. Their shared vision of a cross-fertilization of East and West through the medium of music takes a significant step forward with this recording. We invite you to share it with them.
Sunil K Bose Bio:
SUNIL K. BOSE, For many years Director of All-India Radio, has a distinguished career as musician and scholar, and has functioned as cultural ambassador to many nations. He was brought to the U.S. under the aegis of Wheel in the Wheel, an organization created to promote world understanding through the arts. While here, he lectured, demonstrated and performed dance-dramas with his hostess in the U.S. Ms. Harriet Shaw.
Sunil K. Bose – Vocals, harmonium
Steven Halpern – Keyboards, electric bass, electric guitar
Subhash Sarkar – Tabla
Sandee Hershman – Tamboura
Recorded at the Music Annex, San Jose, CA February 15 - 16, 1977
Recording Engineer – David Porter
Special Thanks to Curt Knoppel and the Aphex Aural Exciter
Cover Photograph – J. Petscheck
Studio Photographs – Jeff Dunker
Art Direction & Graphics – Ron Harris
All compositions by Steven Halpern and Sunil K. Bose, published by Halpern Sounds/Inner Peace Music (BMI)
Produced by Steven Halpern for Halpern Sounds/Inner Peace Music
© (p) 1977 Spectrum Research Institute
(C)(P) 2010 Steven Halpern/Inner Peace Music
