Paul Livingstone – Sangam (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 01:16:43 minutes | 1,21 GB | Genre: World, Indian Music
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Yarlung Records
Sangam is the chamber music duo of sitarist Paul Livingstone and cellist Peter Jacobson. Sangam performs innovative compositions and improvisations straddling the worlds of Indian classical music and European polyphony which arc between deep musical meditations to dynamic polyrhythmic counterpoint. Their unique sound is imbibed with the free spirit of a jazz improvisation and incorporates touches of Latin and popular music styles.Sangam means ‘a confluence of rivers’, it is a meeting place of disparate streams flowing into one. Paul & Pete have been recording and touring together for over 15 years performing with Arohi Ensemble, Build an Ark and Quartetto Fantastico among many other projects born of the globalized Los Angeles creative music community. They have been featured on three Grammy Award-winning records artists such as with Ozomatli, Quetzal & Ricky Kej.
Paul and Pete focus on the Hindustani tradition in this recording. Hindustani music centered in Northern India after diverging from Carnatic music in the 12th Century. The most basic elements in South Asian classical music are the raga and tala. A raga is traditionally a monophonic melody, though Paul and Peter take liberties, incorporating occasional counterpoint and harmony (often in thirds). Each raga adheres to a strict musical structure, which can be executed vocally or on instruments in their individual styles. The tala is the cyclic rhythmic framework which outlines a beat cycle and provides the glue to bring the instruments together in polyrhythmic play. I love what Pete and Paul do within this classical tradition, blended from time to time on this album with their inspired incorporations of new music and jazz. This is not as far-fetched or radical as it may at first seem; both Indian classical musicians and modern jazz cats focus on improvisation on the main melody or idea, just as European players did in the Renaissance.”
Tracklist:
1. Paul Livingstone – Jaisalmer (Improvisation on Chandra Kauns) (04:35)
2. Paul Livingstone – Duality (Raga Yaman) (19:28)
3. Paul Livingstone – Zila Kafi (11:25)
4. Paul Livingstone – Playas (06:51)
5. Paul Livingstone – Jungli Storms (Raga Megh) (11:03)
6. Paul Livingstone – River to the Ocean (Raga Desh) (16:27)
7. Paul Livingstone – Bhairavi (03:33)
8. Paul Livingstone – Surrender (03:17)
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