RajMan Reviews

CD Review – Loveren, by David Arkenstone and Charlee Brooks

2013-05-13T13:02:00.003-07:00

The latest release in David Arkenstone’s 25-year-plus recording career finds the new age legend collaborating with operatic vocalist Charlee Brooks on an ambitious musical tale set in the magical realm of mermaids.

Arkenstone brings his formidable multi-instrumental talents to bear on this project, which is also the basis for an original live production. Arkenstone’s hallmark sounds (guitars, bass, keyboards, and percussion, in addition to instrumentation and orchestration from other musicians) are evidenced in full force here, with a dramatic new twist: Many of the songs are sung by Brooks in a new language created just for this CD and live show – Mermish, the supposed language of mermen, mermaids, and all sorts of merfolk. The result is a musical journey unlike most, combining fantasy and folklore for an enchanting otherworldly experience.

The packaging is also exquisite, recalling the medieval milieu of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. The unique art design and direction amplify the idyllic lyricism of the dreamlike world of song and music that Arkenstone and Brooks have created.

This album provides thrilling escape and should be of particular interest to those listeners who are fond of high-concept music.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – A Coalescence of Dreams, by Timothy Wenzel

2013-05-05T10:19:00.003-07:00

On his second album, keyboardist/composer and molecular research scientist Timothy Wenzel conducts a fusion of musical ideas and themes – partly inspired by sojourns to Hawaii, his native Michigan, and Europe – that coalesce into a pleasant, dream-filled excursion.

Wenzel uses his keyboards and synthesizers to generate a variety of sounds, entrancing tones, and lush ethereal textures. In addition to gentle piano, Wenzel’s sonic palette includes strings, flutes, chimes, and percussion. The audio mix also includes the taut drums of Lenny Levesh on a couple of tracks and the scorching guitar of Denmark’s Michael Rud on one track.

While the recordings are complex in their intricately constructed layers, the compositions are at once simple and wide-ranging, evoking a visceral, cinematic feel.

This CD offers musical escapades that are both relaxing and exciting. Timothy Wenzel’s dreams are good dreams to have.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Scorpion Moon, by Sora

2013-04-28T10:56:00.007-07:00

The Canadian songstress’s latest album is a great showcase for her vocal and compositional abilities, taking pages so to speak from sources as diverse as ancient myths and children’s fairy tales.

Sora’s lyrics are full of vivid imagery and heartfelt emotion, inspired as they are by her passion for literature and her strong stance on love and relationships.

Sora breathes life into these poetic musings with her supple voice, which commands your attention with its stream-like fluidity and in-your-face (in a good way) urgency. She has a unique style all her own, which is refreshing in the current climate of unreasonable facsimiles and unflattering imitation.

The songs are also richly adorned with solid, sparkling instrumentation. In addition to playing piano on one track, Sora has assembled a fine ensemble of musicians. This exquisite group takes the music effortlessly through a variety of genre forms, including pop, new age, Celtic, classical, and orchestral.

For those looking for a different listening experience, the CD provides a welcome detour from the usual expectations.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Hidden Journey, by Scott August

2013-04-21T09:54:00.005-07:00

The latest release by award-winning and chart-topping Native American-style flutist Scott August features music that is as grand as the awe-inspiring majesty of the Southwestern landscapes that inspired it.

August’s various flutes are the heart and soul of the album, weaving a thread around which August adds guitars, sitar, keyboards, synthesizers, and percussion to create a mystical desert symphony.

Cliffs, canyons, and red rocks are the stuff of this CD’s dreams, conjured not only by the impressionistic music but also by the beautiful photography that permeates the CD jacket. The album artwork and the music both serve as a portal to a world of natural beauty.

Tracks such as “Summer Horizons,” “Turquoise Trail,” “Red Rock Crossing,” and “Searching for the Ancients” capture the sweeping mystique of the American Southwest’s vast expanse, making this a hidden journey well worth taking.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Red, by Isadar

2013-04-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

Although Isadar’s latest solo piano album was timed to release around Valentine’s Day because of its love-inspired themes, the music is wide-ranging and versatile enough to be enjoyed all year long.

The real love that comes through on the CD is that which Isadar clearly has for music and the piano, as evidenced by his brilliant and quirky songwriting and passionate performances. Some of the tunes are subtle and intimate, and others are grand and sweeping, but they are all clever and original thanks to Isadar’s convention-defying compositions. Sometimes you think you know where the music’s leading you, and then all of a sudden it comes at you out of left field, making it lively and engaging.

This writing style keeps Isadar’s fingers on their toes, so to speak. Isadar’s mastery of his craft is apparent in the seemingly effortless ease with which he can go from light to dark and from understated to emphatic. His phrasing and chord progressions are also smart and snappy.

This is a rewarding experience for those who are willing to accompany Isadar on his musical journey of love.

--Raj Manoharan

CD (Fan) Review – Long Wave, by Jeff Lynne

2013-04-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

If you’re a fan of Jeff Lynne from his days as the lead singer of and creative force behind 1970s super-group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), or from his work as a producer on the solo albums of his fellow Traveling Wilburys George Harrison, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty in the late 1980s/early 1990s (this is how I first learned of Lynne), then this album is an absolute must-have.

This CD is a collection of covers of 11 early rock and pre-rock standards that influenced Lynne over long-wave radio when he was growing up in Birmingham, England, from artists as diverse as The Everly Brothers, Chuck Berry, and Rodgers and Hammerstein.

The disc is a testament to Lynne’s formidable studio production prowess, as evidenced by the fact that Lynne performs lead and background vocals and plays electric and acoustic guitars, bass, keyboards, and drums (as he also does on Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, his recently released rerecording of ELO’s greatest hits). Additional musicians contribute strings and shakers and percussion.

Every track is brilliant, but Lynne’s renditions of Charles Aznavour’s “She,” “Smile” (co-written by Charlie Chaplin), “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” and “Beyond the Sea” are simply stunning. My favorite is “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing,” which is truly a revelation. Lynne’s vocals are as sprightly as ever (especially amazing considering that Lynne was 63 to 64 years old when he recorded the CD two to three years ago) and the guitar work is superb. Overall, the album proves how underrated Lynne is as a passionate, earnest vocalist and sensitive, thoughtful guitarist.

Even if you’re not a fan of or are not acquainted with Jeff Lynne, you should strongly consider adding this CD to your playlist. It is captivating, enthralling, and mesmerizing. It is one of the best albums of all time.

--Raj Manoharan

CD (Fan) Review – Fundamental, by Andy Summers and Fernanda Takai

2013-04-12T19:33:00.003-07:00

Andy Summers’ latest album – his first with a band in nearly a decade (aside from The Police) and his first with vocals throughout (although not his) since his 1987 solo debut – is an excellent addition to his catalog.

The songs, written by Summers with the exception of the non-English lyrics on about half of the album, are a mix of bossa nova, pop, rock, and jazz, and are sung by popular Japanese-Brazilian singer-songwriter Fernanda Takai, whom Summers met while working on the United Kingdom of Ipanema concert/documentary DVD with Brazilian guitar legend Roberto Menescal.

Takai’s warm, sultry vocals blend perfectly with Summers’typically brilliant and complex fusion guitar leads, rhythms, and solos, and the balanced sound mix allows both the vocals and the guitars to shine without drowning each other out.

In addition to acoustic and electric guitars, Summers plays keyboards and synthesizers, and his tight, solid band includes longtime collaborator Abraham Laboriel Sr. on bass and Marcos Suzano on drums and percussion.

Every track is wonderful, but my absolute, instant favorite is“Falling from the Blue.” This is what The Police might have sounded like if Takai were the vocalist instead of Sting (I’m sure Sting still would have been the bassist). Luckily for Sting, Takai was just a little girl when The Police first came together.

The melting pot of musical cultures and the outstanding performances of everyone involved make this an exhilarating and rewarding listening experience. Andy Summers’ fans certainly will not be disappointed.

--Raj Manoharan

TV – Weekly William Shatner Double "Bill": Double the Bill, Double the Thrill

2013-04-12T19:29:00.001-07:00

If you’re as much of a Shatfan as I am, then you’ll be thrilled to know that you can watch William Shatner every Monday through Saturday in all his scenery-chewing and over-the-top gut-busting glory in two different decades in two different uniforms in two different hairstyles (or hairpieces?).

First up, Shatner’s heyday (shortly before he became a self-parodying, perpetually wealth-generating cottage industry unto himself) came in the 1980s, when—at the same time he was reprising his role as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek movies—he pounded the pavement and cleaned the streets of slimy scum as the titular no-nonsense police sergeant in T.J. Hooker, airing most weeknights at 7:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday after midnight, and Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Universal HD.

Shatner as a uniformed police officer is about as high-concept as you can get, making this the best cop show of all time. Shatner often gets touted for his peerless hood jumping, but he was quite adept behind the wheel as well. He could drift (brake-skidding the car on fast turns) with the best of them. And who could forget that Shatastic ‘80s perm? (Was it real or was it a hairpiece? Find out at www.shatnerstoupee.blogspot.com.) The series also stars the adorably smug Adrian Zmed, a very fresh-faced Heather Locklear, and Shatner’s fellow aging pretty boy James Darren.

Then, catch Shatner two decades earlier in his first iteration of Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, which airs Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. on Me TV (Memorable Entertainment Television). Nothing beats Shatner hamming philosophic about the quandaries of mankind’s place in the universe, all the while sporting a ‘60s-style“straight-laced” coiffure (again—real or fake? Check out www.shatnerstoupee.blogspot.com). Shatner’s partners in pop cultural perpetuity include Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, and George Takei.

So don’t forget to enjoy William Shatner in two of his most memorable TV roles. Tune in five nights (and four early mornings) a week, same Shat time, same Shat channel! (Actually, that's five different times on two different channels.)

--Raj Manoharan

TV – Retro TV Roundup

2013-04-12T19:27:00.002-07:00

If the current slate of programming on broadcast, cable, satellite, and pay TV hasn’t caught your fancy, there are plenty of old favorites to catch up and relive the good old days with on the slew of retro television networks that are booming in popularity.

First up, you can watch William Shatner in all his scenery-chewing and over-the-top gut-busting glory in two different decades in two different uniforms. Shatner’s heyday (shortly before he became a self-parodying, perpetually wealth-generating cottage industry unto himself) came in the 1980s, when—at the same time he was reprising his role as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek movies—he pounded the pavement and cleaned the streets of slimy scum as no-nonsense police sergeant T.J. Hooker.

Shatner as a uniformed police officer is about as high-concept as you can get, making this the best cop show of all time. Shatner often gets touted for his peerless hood jumping, but he was quite adept behind the wheel as well. He could drift (brake-skidding the car on fast turns) with the best of them. The series, which also stars the adorably smug Adrian Zmed, a very fresh-faced Heather Locklear, and fellow aging pretty boy James Darren, airs most weeknights at 7:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday after midnight, and Fridays at 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Universal HD.

Then, catch Shatner two decades earlier in his first iteration of Captain Kirk in the original Star Trek television series, which airs Saturdays at 9:00 p.m. on Me TV (Memorable Entertainment Television). Nothing beats Shatner hamming philosophic about the quandaries of mankind’s place in the universe. Remarkably, 47 years after the show’s debut, with the exception of DeForest Kelley (Dr. McCoy) and James Doohan (Scotty), the other five main cast members are still with us.

By the way, if you love classic television, Me TV should be your first and last stop on the dial. In addition to featuring scores of classic television shows, the network features brilliant commercials touting its various slogans composed entirely of expertly spliced-together clips from all of its shows. This is the ultimate TV channel for the ultimate TV fan.

Between Me TV and Antenna TV, weekend afternoons and evenings make for a veritable bonanza of retro classics. Saturdays and Sundays on Antenna TV, Martin Milner and Kent McCord patrol the streets of Los Angeles as Officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed on Adam-12 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Then, Jack Webb and Harry Morgan take over as Los Angeles plainclothes detectives Joe Friday and Bill Gannon on Dragnet from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays on Me TV, Adam West and Burt Ward star as the caped-crusading dynamic duo Batman and Robin, who race in the Batmobile to save Gotham City from a comical cavalcade of costumed crackpots, with little help from a hilariously inept police force, in the 1960s pop cultural phenomenon Batman. The show airs at 7:00 p.m. and is followed by Irwin Allen’s Lost in Space at 8:00 p.m. and Star Trek at 9:00 p.m.

You can take your pick of Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, or Christian Bale as the various Dark Knights (Keaton and Bale are my personal favorite modern movie Batmen), but no matter what the fanboys naysay, Adam West (who also played Batman on the big screen) made the most indelible and lasting mark of any of them on pop culture. He is the one Batman to rule them all.

Check your local listings or go online to learn about all the great classic shows airing on Antenna TV, Me TV, TV Land, and Universal HD.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Visions, by Uwe Gronau

2013-04-07T11:38:00.005-07:00

Keyboardist/composer Uwe Gronau delivers yet again on his third major international release.

Inspired by a nocturnal sojourn through the streets of Paris, Gronau uses his synthesizers to create a whirlwind of visceral, layered sound that weaves its way through a multitude of musical genres, including progressive rock, jazz, fusion, and New Age, all the while enrapturing listeners in its intoxicating spell.

In addition to a Yamaha piano and a Hammond B3 organ, Gronau plays Virus synthesizers and a Mini Moog Voyager, generating searing electric guitar tones, pulsating bass lines, and kinetic percussion over lush, ethereal textures. The CD also features guest performances by guitarist Pete Sayer and saxophonist Matthias Kreidel, who contribute their talents to one track each.

The album package is exceptional as well, featuring stunning French-inspired artwork, crisp artist portraits, and breathtaking nighttime photography. The high quality design and layout are worthy of the excellent music contained within, making the overall presentation very attractive.

If you dig the sounds of Phil Collins, Genesis, Jan Hammer, Michael Stribling and David Mauk and appreciate fine CD cover/booklet visuals, this album is right up your alley.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Love’s River, by Laura Sullivan

2013-03-31T09:21:00.005-07:00

Laura Sullivan’s sixth release is a study in subtlety, providing much-needed and welcome respite from the amplified noise of everyday life.

The eleven original piano compositions penned by Sullivan are elegant and gorgeous, profuse in the fluidity of passion suggested by the title.

In addition to Sullivan’s piano and synthesized orchestrations, the rich sound mix includes guitar by Will Ackerman (producer on four tracks), trumpet and flugelhorn by Jeff Oster, cello by Eugene Friesen, oboe and English horn by Nancy Rumbel, and oboe and English horn by Jill Haley.

This is a perfect CD to take along anytime you want to sojourn down love’s river.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Between the Shores of Our Souls, by Mirabai Ceiba

2013-03-24T14:26:00.000-07:00

On their fifth album, the duo of singer/guitarist Markus Sieber and singer/harpist/keyboardist Angelika Baumbach present songs of love and longing.

In addition to original lyrics, the recordings also feature the poetry of Rumi and Kahlil Gibran, resulting in musical ruminations that go well beyond the simple concept of love to ponder its deeper philosophical and psychological underpinnings.

Sieber and Baumbach literally make beautiful music together, with Baumbach’s angelic voice blending perfectly with Sieber’s vocals, which are as soft as his plush guitar notes.

The duo receive solid studio support from a number of fine world-class musicians playing trumpet, cello, violin, viola, percussion, keyboards, bass, electric guitar, ukulele, and tambour.

This is a pleasant CD for anyone who likes gentle love songs that stimulate the intellect as well as touch the heart.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Attuning to Oneness: The Harmonic Ascension, by Paradiso and Rasamayi

2013-03-19T22:10:00.001-07:00

The duo of Paradiso and Rasamyi team up again to collaborate on this album of mystical music.

Paradiso plays didjeridoo, keyboards, theremin, and gong, and Rasamayi performs chants as well as plays crystal merkaba and Alchemy crystal singing bowls.

The music is very somber and reverent, with Paradiso’s keyboards providing a subtle foundation over which Rasamayi’s soothing voice placates, accented by Paradiso’s theremin and gong and Rasamayi’s crystal merkaba and Alchemy crystal singing bowls.

This CD sets the perfect mood for meditation, relaxation, or just a quiet evening. It’s even ideal for a nighttime drive, although the album’s back cover warns against driving or operating heavy machinery while listening to the record. I would say to heed this advice if you’re easily susceptible to falling asleep at the wheel while listening to quiet music or sounds. Otherwise, it’s a great accompaniment to and facilitator for driving, which is itself an act of meditation requiring concentration and focus.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Heart of the Universe, by Peter Kater and Snatam Kaur

2013-03-11T17:21:00.004-07:00

Fresh on the heels of his Grammy Award-nominated New Age masterpiece Light Body, Peter Kater offers up another original collection of beautiful keyboard-based tracks, this time in collaboration with American Sikh female vocalist Snatam Kaur (pronounced Sun-Autumn Car).

As evidenced by Kaur’s adopted Sikh tradition, the songs are quietly powerful anthems of peace and love, fueled by Kaur’s soft but firm vocals (her inflections remind me of Celine Dion and her sweet timbre is similar to that of Susan Boyle) and Kater’s gorgeous piano playing and elegant synthesizer textures.

Making the already magical proceedings even more exquisite are wonderful contributions from Paul McCandless on oboe, penny whistles, and English horn, Bijoux Barbosa on bass, Christian Teele on percussion, and Glen Velez Frame and Larry Thompson on drums. Also on hand is the Macedonia Radio Symphonic Orchestra, giving the recording a touch of classical class.

The result is one of the most beautiful vocal/instrumental albums I have heard in any genre.

--Raj Manoharan

TV – Weekly William Shatner Double "Bill": Double the Bill, Double the Thrill

2013-03-08T21:41:00.001-08:00

TV – Retro TV Roundup

2013-03-08T21:38:00.001-08:00

CD (Fan) Review – Fundamental, by Andy Summers and Fernanda Takai

2013-03-08T21:35:00.004-08:00

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Pianoforte, by Timothy Crane

2013-03-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Timothy Crane’s third album is a nice collection of classy piano tunes that provide a pleasant listening experience.

While Crane is an accomplished and versatile performer, he has chosen to make his elegant compositions the focus of this record. The melodies and chord progressions are graceful and tasteful, brought to vivid life by Crane’s masterful piano technique, as well as his synthesized orchestration and some accompaniment by Rick Henley on acoustic guitar. At times, both Crane’s compositions and performances remind me a little bit of Bruce Hornsby.

This is a fine CD that is a delight to listen to from beginning to end.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Chimes of the Spirit, by Acoustic Ocean

2013-02-24T20:22:00.002-08:00

On their third album, Acoustic Ocean offer up eleven predominantly instrumental tunes that cement their well-deserved status as one of the preeminent duos recording and performing in the New Age genre today.

Bette Phelan and Peggy Morgan combine their backgrounds as folk singer-songwriters with Celtic influences and the inspiration of their home base of Hawaii, resulting in a unique fusion of world music that could best be described as mystic rustic tropical.

The two are practically a whole self-conducted orchestra unto themselves, with Morgan playing Celtic harp, rhythm guitar, piano, and Tibetan singing bowls and Phelan playing acoustic and electric guitars, fretless bass, pennywhistles, mandolin, wave drum, hammered dulcimer, chimes, and keyboards (synthesizing Uilleann pipes and clarinet). The two also contribute their earnest, heartfelt vocals to some of the songs. They are joined as well by Anne Berliner on flute and Kay Aldrich on cello.

This is another excellent, engaging release by Acoustic Ocean, with a full, rich sound that soothes the soul and puts the mind at ease.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Believe: A Spiritual Romance, by 2002

2013-02-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

Every time I receive a mailer from 2002, I can’t wait to open the package and hear what marvelous, glorious sonic adventure I’ll be taken on. This is the third such time I’ve had the pleasure, and it’s been a charm every time. Unfortunately, due to extenuating circumstances, it took a long while to get to it, but the wait was well worth it.

The Billboard-charting group, which recently celebrated its 20^th anniversary, has unleashed yet another masterpiece of sonic bliss. Randy (guitars, bass, percussion) and Pamela (flutes, harp) Copus, both of whom play keyboards and synthesizers, are joined on vocals by their eight-year-old daughter Sarah, who also helped with the arrangements, including composing the melody for “A Dream Creation.”

The instrumentation is thick, dense, and lush, and the female vocals are angelic, resulting in a truly heavenly sound. Randy’s vocals are more grounded, and when he gets into a higher register, he sounds similar to Peter Cetera, giving the songs more of a pop-rock feel.

The production is flawless in its knife-edge quality, really bringing out the vocals and instrumentation and making the album a delight to listen to from beginning to end.

While each and every song is a treasure for the heart, mind, and soul, my favorite track is the New Age rocker “Yeshua,” a grand, propulsive, and vibrant anthem. This one has all the makings of a hit New Age radio single.

The album is yet another winner from these always reliable chart-toppers. Leave it to 2002 to churn out one consistent classic after another.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Somewhere in a Hidden Memory, by Trine Opsahl

2013-02-10T20:37:00.002-08:00

The Norway-born Denmark-based harpist presents 15 original, self-penned tracks that are relaxing, uplifting, and inspiring.

The compositions have a lyrical beauty that envelops the listener in warmth, resulting in a calming, therapeutic effect. This is no surprise as Opsahl has designed this music with this purpose in mind, performing not only in concert halls but in clinics and hospices as well.

Opsahl’s playing also seems to be a natural extension of herself, flowing effortlessly from her mind and her hands. Her tones are equally exceptional, sounding not only like a traditional harp, but at times even like an acoustic guitar, mandolin, or harpsichord.

This album is perfect for those who enjoy the sound of stringed instruments or just need to hear something soothing.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Light Body, by Peter Kater

2013-02-03T15:28:00.002-08:00

Each track on this new release is named after one of the seven chakras. I don’t know anything about that sort of thing, but I do know this: the music on this CD is excellent.

Seven-time Grammy Award nominee, Billboard-charting recording artist, and film and television composer Peter Kater has used his piano and synthesizers to stunning effect, creating lush musical vistas that transport the listener to a paradise of the mind.

Kater’s vision is brought to fruition by Paul McCandless’s oboe, English horn, pennywhistles, and saxophones, and executive producer Trisha Bowden’s enchanting vocals. Kater, McCandless, and Bowden are not rockers by any means, but they make quite the power trio of a different kind.

This is classic New Age music, and one of the finer, more pure entries in that genre.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Black & White: 25th Anniversary Edition, by Danny Wright

2013-01-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

Danny Wright celebrates his quarter-century career as an internationally renowned pianist by rereleasing several of his landmark albums, chief among them his debut CD.

This disc offers a mix of standards, movie music, and Broadway tunes. Highlights include “Moonlight Sonata” and medleys of George Gershwin and Barbra Streisand. Particularly affecting are Wright’s sensitive and nuanced takes of Streisand’s “People” and “Memory,” and “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita.

Wright’s arrangements are tasteful, and his playing is masterful in its temperance.

This album is a pleasant excursion through the American pop culture songbook.

--Raj Manoharan

CD (Fan) Review – Fundamental, by Andy Summers and Fernanda Takai

2013-01-21T17:41:00.000-08:00

Takai’s warm, sultry vocals blend perfectly with Summers’ typically brilliant and complex fusion guitar leads, rhythms, and solos, and the balanced sound mix allows both the vocals and the guitars to shine without drowning each other out.

Every track is wonderful, but my absolute, instant favorite is “Falling from the Blue.” This is what The Police might have sounded like if Takai were the vocalist instead of Sting (I’m sure Sting still would have been the bassist). Luckily for Sting, Takai was just a little girl when The Police first came together.

--Raj Manoharan

CD Review – Gypsy Grooves, by Priyo

2013-01-20T11:15:00.005-08:00

Multi-instrumentalist Priyo’s latest album is an intoxicating blend of rhythmic grooves from the African, Mediterranean, and Spanish flamenco traditions, with his main instrument of acoustic guitar taking center stage.

The CD is truly a fusion of world music, with Priyo’s vibrant guitar playing underscoring a variety of genres, from dance and pop to new age and space jazz. Priyo especially stretches out on the appropriately named, reggae-influenced “Marswalk.”

In addition to Priyo’s guitars, the sound mix includes keyboards, bass, percussion, and entrancing male and female vocals. By the way, the female lead vocal on “Mia Amour” is one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard.

This is an excellent guitar-based album full of engaging, buoyant musicality.

--Raj Manoharan