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Improvisations (Ravi Shankar album)

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Improvisations
Studio album by
Released1962
Recorded1962
GenreHindustani classical, World fusion, Indo jazz
Length39:42
LabelWorld Pacific (LP), Angel (CD)
ProducerRichard Bock
Ravi Shankar chronology
India's Master Musician
(1959)
Improvisations
(1962)
India's Most Distinguished Musician In Concert
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Improvisations is a 1962 LP album by Ravi Shankar. The opening piece is based on music from Shankar's score for Satyajit Ray's 1955 movie Pather Panchali with flutist Bud Shank playing in Indian style. Shankar composed "Fire Night" influenced by the 1961 Los Angeles fires and the song features jazz musicians Shank (flute) and Gary Peacock (bass) improvising over Indian percussion instruments. There is a clear free jazz influence on tracks like Karnataki (Raga Kirvani).[2] The concluding ragas are in classical Indian style: the first raga, Kirvani, with South Indian origin, and the second, Rageshri, with North Indian origin. The album was released in CD format by Angel Records in 1999 and has been described as a "visionary recording" by AllMusic reviewer Heather Phares.[1][3]

Track listing

[edit]
  1. "Improvisation on the Theme Music from Pather Panchali" – 7:07
  2. "Fire Night" – 4:37
  3. "Karnataki (Raga Kirvani)" – 6:43
  4. "Raga Rageshri: Part 1 (Alap)" – 6:50
  5. "Raga Rageshri: Part 2 (Jor)" – 11:01
  6. "Raga Rageshri: Part 3 (Gat)" – 3:24

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "Improvisations". AllMusic. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
  2. ^ Wiser, Danny (4 July 2020). "INDIA: Improvisations - Ravi Shankar". 200worldalbums.com. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ Brown, Robert E. (1962). Improvisations (liner notes). Ravi Shankar. World Pacific.