Amalgam
5
By Intriguing Textures
I am inexperienced with much music outside the Western tradition, yet the truth, clarity, and enticing textures of this remarkable album insist that it be heard. The quality of the recording is full, clear, nuanced, and present, but not overly aggressive. Though I have no expertise in music for sarod, I do know violin. Elmira Darvarova is unerringly consistent and masterful in her command of the instrument. She is gifted with an exquisite sense of line and musicality, and has the technique to deliver. Her playing never seems difficult or contrived; it is this quality of honesty and love of beauty that I find so appealing. I anticipate more hours of escape into the exotic flavors of this enticing album.
Hauntingly Beautiful.
5
By Violist Craig
Hauntingly beautiful! I was carried away to a far off and mysterious place. It’s obvious that these performers deeply love and understand the traditions of this marvelous music. I was especially struck by the passionate performance by Elmira Darvarova of her own composition, “Distant Dreams,” based on folk tunes from her native Bulgaria.
This album is moving and unforgettable.
Mesmerizing!
5
By Zhen Victor Chen
One of the most beautiful album! Never thought that when violin plays with scrods, the result could be so mesmerzing! Violinist Elmira Darvarova present a very rich and exotic sound with other three indian artists! I would like to say this is the one of the best world music album of the year! big congratulations to these four amazing artists!
An extraordinary sequel to Soul Strings with masters Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan and Elmira Darvarova
5
By Nickology
How refreshing it is to hear such music! The blend of cultures and sounds from musicians of such immense talent and notoriety makes Amalgam a truly unique and soothing experience. As a sequel to the fantastic [[ASIN:B013L37JLK Soul Strings]], Amalgam confirms the extraordinary music that world-renown sarod masters Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan and virtuoso violinist Elmira Darvarova can produce. I highly recommend this music and am looking forward to a third album!
An amazing follow up to Soul Strings
5
By zarence
The brilliant sarod masters Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash have teamed up again with virtuoso violinist Elmira Darvarova to realize this amazing second album. The charisma and inimitable artistry of the “king” of the sarod, the great Amjad Ali Khan is an excellent addition.
While their first album, Soul Strings, explored the East-meets-West relationship, Amalgam goes even deeper into this direction, letting us know that the excellence of Soul Strings was not just a fluke and that music is indeed a universal language. New frontiers have been reached with this album, going even further than the Yehudi Menuhin - Ravi Shankar East-meets-West collaboration 50 years ago!
Outstanding musicians and music!
5
By Vibe Caliente
Exquisite solo violin passages intertwined with meditative sarod playing followed by rhythmic tabla-charged ensemble passages. Each track reveals deeper intricacies on every listen. Bending violin and sarod melody notes chasing and mirroring each other throughout with a wildly energized ending to the final track “By the Moon”.
Stunning, simply fantastic interpretations by superb instrumentalists!
5
By RLeoncavallo
Stunning, simply fantastic interpretations by superb instrumentalists, bridging cultures and epochs with an amazing approach to sharing their respective backgrounds and artistic values! This new collaborative offering from the “First Family of Sarod” (the one-and-only Amjad Ali Khan and his two sons Amaan & Ayaan Ali Khan), joined by dazzling virtuoso violinist Elmira Darvarova, achieves astonishing results in the quest for creation of exquisite beauty and artistry, surpassing even the high East-Meets-West standards that Ravi Shankar and Yehudi Menuhin strived for decades ago. Highly recommended, don’t miss!
Going even further than the Yehudi Menuhin - Ravi Shankar collaboration 50 years ago!
5
By Extroverted
Once again the brilliant sarod masters Amaan & Ayaan Ali Bangash teaming up with virtuoso violinist Elmira Darvarova have “hit it out of the park” with their second album, Amalgam, this time with the added presence, charisma and inimitable artistry of the “king” of the sarod, the great Amjad Ali Khan. While their first album, Soul Strings, explored the East-meets-West relationship, Amalgam goes even deeper into this direction, letting us know that the excellence of Soul Strings was not just a fluke and that music is indeed a universal language. New frontiers have been reached with this album, going even further than the Yehudi Menuhin - Ravi Shankar East-meets-West collaboration 50 years ago!
Like exquisite fine modernist cuisine !
5
By Music Lover 731
Like exquisite fine modernist cuisine, Amalgam is a careful and artful blend of world and classical music traditions. The result is so seamless and effective that the listener feels no sense of the artificial, that it was always here, waiting to be discovered. The world class performers and fine recording quality make for delightful listening. Bravo !
Highly recommend
5
By Mshchuk
I really enjoyed this record - some really interesting and beautiful blending of styles by musicians who are very clearly masters of their craft!
