Surinder Sandhu SauRang Orchestra Reviews

Modeljob's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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Good Points: Strong Melodies, fantastic musicianship and competant production. Original.

Bad Points: Hard to catagorise.

General comments: I orginally purchased this CD after hearing about it on various forums. I have to say I was totally unprepared for the music. It was very different to what I expected.
The music is fresh, dynamic and highly orginal. Don't buy this album if you want easy listening or want it to sound like something it isn't. It's in it's own space.
The JFDERRY review is somewhat unlrealistic in that he thinks the soloists are wasted because they don't get long long solo's etc. I think there's a real skill to capture in a short phrase a musicians magic. Infact, in India, Classical recordings were initially made with Indian Ragas performing only 2 minute renditions of normally 60+ minute renditions.
Also, Derry's so called 'gripe' on the Mridangam peaking is silly, anyone who knows the drum will know that the buzzing is part of the drums sound (I know as I am South Indian and my family have been playing Mridangam, Ghatam and Khanjira for 3 generations).

All in all, Saurang orchestra is a magical recording, a real landmark. Its not a Shakti style recording with elaborate solo's, nor is it a coltrane style that allows the soloist to play until he has exhausted his idea's. Rather, Saurang captures some beautiful performances from the worlds finest musicians.

Bravo! I only wish there were more albums like this that had the guts to cross boundaries without fear!

jfderry's review has yet to be rated - Be the first!
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This is an overpopulated album. And I'm sorry to say that spoils it for me.
Full credit to the producers and musicians for succeeding in completing what must have been a logistic nightmare. Simply getting everyone recorded (in a variety of locations) and then piecing it all together is a great achievement. Simply getting the musicians that they did manage to collect together is also amazing. Andy Sheppard and Stevie Vai for cripes sake! Other than a little unfortunate shredding, Vai plays beau ...