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It¹s so incredible that it¹s hard to find enough superlatives! "Absolutely awe inspiring performance at both the technical and spiritual level! Second to none as an introduction to some of the most exquisitely beautiful and exotic music in the world! Virtuosity at this level will inspire and captivate all who witness it."
It is a pleasure and an inspiration to watch and hear Ustad Shahid Parvez delight on the Sitar. The ease and comfort with which he expresses himself belies the complexities of the sitar and the skill required to master this instrument. The journey he takes his audience on is extremely well crafted, exciting and enjoyable. When joined by Tabla the rapport that he has with Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, a Master in his own right, is a delight and to witness the spontaneity of their performance is indeed a privilege. This delight of the tabla and sitar is shared by those familiar with classical Hindustani music and those whose musical experience is of a more Western tradition. The supplementary Taste of Hindustani Music is truely a feast for those wishing to understand the roots of this music and it's evolution. It is informative and instructive and will leave the Western Novice wanting more. I highly recommend adding this DVD to any music collection. It is a pearl to be enjoyed many many times as the deeper layers of this music and its performance are revealed with each playback.
"To say that Parvez is a virtuoso would be an understatement. This man can summon angels and demons from his instrument and frequently does so. Lilting drones to furious speed bursts that the human eye is not quick enough to follow are two of the extreme elements that charecterize this man's awesome technical and musical ability. If you fancy yourself a musician on any level I guarantee you will be humbled by this performance. The only accompaniment is supplied by percussionist Pandit Anindo Chatterjee who is also a talent that seems otherworldy. Together they will astound you. 5 stars. "
"Ustad Shahid Parvez live in concert DVD not only was inspirational, moving and enlightening but an absolutely vital tool in the study of Indian classical music. His performance magically takes you to higher plain and brings you to a level where you feel peace and happiness.
The honesty in the performance and the integrity and absolute meticulous skill are clearly evident - and for anyone wishing to be inspired, and forever changed this DVD is a must - a truly humbling experience."
Azim Keshavjee - Trend Music Education - CANADA
a VERY BIG THANK YOU for releasing the album. I did view the DVD a couple of days after receipt, but was not satisfied with my own concentration level that evening. Eventually I had a second viewing on 23rd from late evening past midnight. The timing was perfect for Bageshri, one of the most poignant compositions in Hindustani classical music. The concert was of high quality, and thank you for releasing it in DVD format since a normal CD, apart from absence of the visual aspect, would not have accomodated the entire performance. Ustad Shahid Parvez is in very good nick during the past few years, and as far as I am concerned, this concert would rank among his better ones. Anindo Chatterjee is not only a top class percussionist, but also his performance on that evening was of a very high standard. Together, they created a magical evening in Melbourne which, courtesy "Media Design", I was able to experience after 2 years sitting here in India. Indeed, this album is going to be one of my prize possessions. Bageshri was composed centuries back, has been sung/played millions of times, and yet never fails to mesmerise the audience.
Nirmalya Mukhopadhyay - India
Parvez’s music is a voyage in a distant culture and traditions. The hypnotic performance explodes into a brilliant improvisation. This is a great source of inspiration. A meditative melody creates the waves of different emotions running through our minds even faster then Parvez’s notes. A brilliant recording place this project in a category of “the most wanted”…
OK, so I put the disc on, expecting to watch a typical sitar, tabla concert and, quite frankly being bored to tears with it. Instead, what I saw totally blew me away. Ustad Shahid Parvez. Of all the years I’ve been in the industry, I’ve never seen anything quite like it. The guys not a genius, he’s a freek. I still don’t quite get where he is, I mean he’s not on my planet. His playing is to be seen to be believed. Then there’s Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. Two small drums, yet a full compliment of notes and rich tones. How he makes the tabla sing like that is quite stunning. What I also appreciated about the concert is the sound quality. Usually these style concerts sound ok in small doses, but I found this to be almost lush sounding. Compliments to the sound guy. Overall a must see.
Aaron Humphries - Engineer 001 Production
This is a brilliant concert, even from a western perspective the high standard of musicianship is obvious. Ustad has an amazing balance between technical prowess, and musical sincerity. melodically and rhythmically he is constantly facinating, and the interplay between the two is a delight. Their spiritual training is in clear display, as ustad sits comfortably for 45 minutes in a position that most westerners couldn't hold for 30 seconds highly recommended.
"Paganini, Rachmaninov, Mile Davis, Don Burrows, Carlos Santana and David Gilmore are names of brilliant virtuosi from Classical, Jazz and Rock who so moved me that they shaped my own artistic philosophy. Their exceptional ability to combine artistic expression with technical genius leaves me in total awe of these artists. BUT now I add Shahid Parvez and Anindo Chatterjee !! These guys just blew me out backwards.... simply phenomenal!!
Shahid and Anindo have brought the rich tradition of North Indian music to Melbourne and taken us on a magical, musical journey. The exquisite weaving of the notes and superb harmony of purpose by these two virtuoso musicians can only be heard in silent admiration. Thank you Shahid and Anindo.
Being a European classically trained musician and not familiar with Indian music culture, this was an insightful musical and visual experience, which has enthused me. The performance had no obstacle course fearlessly driven by a consuming curiosity and passion. The music brushed my surroundings whilst my senses absorbed information from every stroke of the artists rhythm and melody. A true classical world music experience!!! You only need to close your eyes, open your mind, and listen to remove any misconceptions.
"Two musicians each become a single whole with their instruments, physically and emotionally, and then each becomes a part of the other. The result: the most magnificent music.To a western ear this symbiosis of sitar and tabla becomes a living thing, like pure jazz. The camera records appreciative glances and magical smiles between the two musicians, as they weave their spell on the audience. Even the quietest strum of the sitar and tap of the tabla are seen and heard as though you were sitting right up there on stage, as an intimate part of that magical Melbourne concert evening.Four parts, Ustad Parvez with his Sitar, and Pandit Chatterjee with his Tabla, are made into one as the music reverberates live from the stage.This skilfully recorded and compiled DVD illustrates the intense level of understanding and empathy each musician has for his instrument, and for each other. Ninety minutes of beautifully filmed and recorded joy, with a history of the music of Northern India added as a bonus."
