Carnatic Album Reviews..

[Oldposts]

Title: Chinnanchiru Killiye
Artist: Sowmya
CD Vocal
Violin:Vital Ramamurthy,
Mridangam:Melakaveri K.Balaji,
Ghatam:S.Karthick.

1. Karunai Seyvai-Hamsadhwani-Adi-Papaasam Sivan,
2. Guruvayurappane-Reetigowla-Adi-Ambujam Krishna,
3. Srinivasa Thiruvengada-Hamsanandi-Adi-Papanasam Sivan,
4. Kannavenum Laksham-Suruti-Adi-Arunachala Kavi,
5. Manadirikkukaga-Sindubhairavi-Adi-Tanjavur Sankara Iyer,
6. Kalliyuga Varadhan-Brindavana Saranga-Adi-Periyasami Thooran,
7. Kunitha Puruvamum-Ragamalika Viruttam-Appar,
8. Idhuthanuo-Behag-Adi-Gopalkrishna Bharati,
9. Nanoru Vilyatu Pillai-Navarasakannada-Adi-Papanasam Sivan,
10. Chinanchiru Kiliyae-Ragamalika-Tisra Nadai-Subramanya Bharathi,
11. Karpagame-Madhyamavati-Adi-Papanasam Sivan

Sowmya starts with Karunai Seivai in Hamswadhwani by Papanasam SIvan, it is ok, but not as good as sudha raghunathan or nithyasree....she then moves to Ambujam Krishnan's Guruvayurappane Appan in Reethi Goulai and renders this better than sudha raghunathan, She then moves to raga poorvikalyani which she sings alaap or raga introduction beautifully for then going to the song Srinivasa Thiruvengata by Papanasam Sivan.....then she moves to Kanavenum Laksham in Surutti by Arunachala Kavi and this she sings quite beautifully, Manadirukugandhadhu in Sindhu Bhairavi by Thanjavur Shankara Iyar is sung quite well, then she moves on to Kaliyuga Varadhan in Brindhavani/Brindhavana Saranga by Periyaswami THooran and doesn't render it as well as SUdha Raghunathan, then she sings a ragamalika virutham or thevaram set of appar, and this is rendered very very well, then moves on to Gopalakrishna Bharathis Idhu THano Thillai Sthalam in HIndusthani Behaag and this isn't bad at all, She then goes to sing in Navarasa Kannada by Papanasam SIvan, the very popular Naan Oru Villayatu...then she sings subramania bharathi's popular chinnanchiru killiye in ragamalika and sings this extraordinarily well with a lot of bhava, and her sangathis are perfection and then finishes off with papanasam sivan's karpagame in Madhyamavathi. THis is a pretty good cd, sound quality could be improved though.

[Oldposts]

i want tamil devotional songs on lord krishna

[Oldposts]

Title: Pratidhwani
Artistes: M.L. Vasanthakumari-Vocal
Charumathy Ramachandran- Vocal
A. Kanyakumari Violin
T. Bhakthavatsalam-Mridangam

Songs:
1. Gananayakam-Purnashadjam-Dikshitar
2.Jaya Jaya Jaya -Nattai - Purandaradasa
3. Karaharapriya fld by Rama Nee Samanam-Thyagaraja
4. Va Muruga Va-Begada-Spencer Venugopal
5. Seve Srikantam-Mohanakalyani-Swathi Thirunaal
6. RTP- Shanmukapriya

This is one of the best concerts I have ever heard. Its more like a Jugalbandhi where MLV lets Charumathy sing neraval and swaras. The RTP is fantastic for a whole hour. All the kirtanas are rendered in the typical MLV style. Definitely a good album to have.
The accompaniments are very much praiseworthy.

[Oldposts]

Title: Pratidhwani
Artistes: M.S. Subbulakshmi-Vocal
Vocally Accompanied by Smt. Radha Viswanthan
Accompaniments:
Violin-V.V. Subramanyam
Mridangam - T.K. Moorthy;
Kanjeera - V. Nagarajan;
Ghatam - T.H.Vinayarkaram

Songs:
1. Viriboni (Varnam) -Bhairavi-Ata Thala-
2. Paraath Paraa-Vachaspathi-Adi-Papanasam Sivan
3. Hariharaputram-Vasantha-Adi-Dikshithar
4. Enati Nomu Phalamo-Bhairavi-Adi-Thyagaraja
5. Bhogindra Sayinam-Kunthalavarali-Swathi Thirunaal
6. Palinstu Kamakshi-Madhyamavathi-Adi-Syama Sasthri
7. Nada Vindu (Thiruppugazh)

This is one of the best concerts/albums I have ever heard from golden greats. Its more like a Jugalbandhi where MSS lets Radha Vishwanathan sing neraval and karpana swaras. MSS sings Viriboni at such a speed for second kala or second speed, that it is very hard to keep up when you are singing with her or following her on cd, her throat is so flexible and all her sangathis/assaivus/brugas are coming with such ease, Radha Vishwanathan then goes to the high pitch at times, and this sounds wonderful. Paraath paraa she sings the nereval and swaras with such bhava/feeling. Hariharaputhram is rendered well too, with a lot of bhava as well. Enati Nomu Phalamo is obviously the grand hit. WIth alap/ragam at the beginning, followed by the song, then the nereval and swaras by both MSS and Radha Vishwanathan and the violinist and this is the most grand part. Excellent, and brilliant are just a few of the feelings you will feel when you hear it. Bhogindra Sayinam is alright, but doesn't deserve a special mention. Palinstu Kamakshi is rendered well and once again, Radha Viswanathan goes to the high pitch at times. Then Nada Vindu finishes the album off. This thiruppugazh is rendered in a different and interesting way, seeing not many sing it in this way. Overall it was a brilliant album/concert and the accompaniments are very much praiseworthy. The best of all is what i'd say for MSS's singing.

[Oldposts]

I followed Shyams format in writing the review up. But the title is Sangita Kalanidhi. That's all for now,

Nishanth

[Oldposts]

Hi nishanth
I meant title of the album.
Shyam

[Oldposts]

Rising Stars: Live at Narada Gana Sabha 1998
Balaji Sankar-Vocal
BV Raghavendra Rao-Violin
Srimushnam Raja Rao-Mridangam

1. Shankaram Abhirami-Kamalamanohari-Dikshitar
2. Paalimpa Raava- Arabhi-Pallavi Seshayyar
3. Nadachi Nadachi-Kharaharapriya-Thyagaraja
4. Karunai Deivame-Sindhubhairavi-Sreenivasan
5. Daya mado Ranga- Kalyani-Purandaradasaru
6. Laali-Peelu-Purandaradasaru
7. Shobanam-Madhyamavathy-Arunachala Kavirayar

A very refreshing concert. Balaji's voice is just superb, and equally good are the accompaniments. Raghavendra Rao's training under giants such as TN. Krishnan and Balamurali really shows. He really showcases his ability in the alapanais of Kharaharapriya and Kalyani.
I have come to like all of Balaji's comnmercial and non commercial ventures, he sings a good combo of rare and commonly rendered kritis in his style showing strict adherence to shruti. DKP/DKJ training is evident in this concert, but he also has tried hard to showcase his own creativity, good effort, still has long ways to go, yet very promising.
His pronounciation is impeccable even in the kannada songs. Kudos to you man!!!

[Oldposts]

Ragam Thanam and Pallavi
Bombay Sisters-Vocal
USha Rajagopal-Violin
Arjunkumar-Mridangam
Govindarajan-Ghatam

The RTP is in Thodi. I am an ardent fan of the duo, but they have declined a lot in their quality from where they used to be. This album is aurally disturbing, unpleasant, to say the least.
Thodi is one of the most majestic ragas and it like kambojhi and bhairavi has many many shades to it that have been brought forth by eminent artists. GNB, SSI, MSS and MLV's thodi comes to mind. I have them rendering Thodi as RTP more than one time,a nd everytime, they are able to bring out a subtley different thodi.
This alapana is awful!!! So bland that I dont mind myself hearing my own rendition in my own gruff voice! Their beautiful voices have become so dull,and they make absolutely no effort to present any racy swaras. Can you believe there is no trace of brighas in the pallavi?
What happened to all that talent?
USha Rajagopal is one of those artists whose performance seems to coincide with the artists.
Accompaniments can be heard when the sisters are not croaking away.
That tape went straight into my dustbin.

[Oldposts]

I meant title of album was Sangita Kalanidhi M.S.Subbulakshmi for my review from yesterday. I have never enjoyed bombay sisters singing, it is so bitter. ANyway, that is all,
Nishanth

[Oldposts]

Ganaamrutham
Nithyashree Mahadevan-Vocal
M.A. Krishnaswamy - Violin
Mridangam - I.Sivakumar
Ghatam - S. Karthick
Kanjira - Ganesh Kumar

1. Arula Vendum- saaramathy-Dandapani desikar
2. Piraava Varam - Lathaangi- Papanasam Sivan
3. Enna Solli - Kaanada - Ambujam Krishna
4. Yen Palli - Mohanam and Kapi - Arunachala
Kaviraayar
5. Muruga Muruga -Saaveri-Periyasami Thooran
6. Dhikku Theriyatha -Ragamalika-Mahakavi
Bharathiyar
7. Shankara - Sindhu Bhairavi-Ganapathy Raman
8. Thiruppugazh

Nithyasree's voice has really matured and I dont find her shouting. I have always liked her style, but sometime my ears hurt (literally) after listening to her live concerts on my mp3 player.
This is a very pleasantly rendered album starting out with the rarely heard arula Venum in saaramathy. This is followed by a crisp alapana in lathangi, a coomon violin alap, and an excellently rendered Pirava Varam tharum with bhava soaked neraval and swaras at the anupallavi. Well done!
All the other pieces are well rendered, an hour and money very well spent i would say. Totally worth it!