Music for Grownups Reviews: Richie Havens, U. Shrinivas
By: Richard Gehr | Source: AARP.org | 2008-07-29
Richard Gehr is a veteran music critic based in New York City. His reviews for AARP.org appear every Tuesday; his columns on Thursdays.
Richie Havens
"Nobody Left to Crown"
Verve
Richie Havens is both a blessing and a curse. His passionately strummed acoustic guitar and soulful folksinger's voice remain seemingly unchanged since he took the stage for his memorable Woodstock performance in 1969. And since our present historical situation strongly resembles that of the Vietnam era, his 27th album might as well be his first. Havens's original songs oscillate between hope and despair. "The Key" imagines a place where "truth and beauty still survive." The title track asks, "What if they gave an election and nobody came to vote?" As usual, though, Havens is strongest interpreting the work of others, which in this case includes Jackson Browne's "Lives in the Balance" and the album's hands-down hit, a strong, energetic, and eminently downloadable version of The Who's timeless "Won't Get Fooled Again."
U. Shrinivas
"Samjanitha"
Dreyfus
Although the mandolin was introduced to India in the early 20th century, it's still an uncommon instrument in Indian classical music—compared to the sitar and the sarod, for example. On "Samjanitha," the instrument's present master—U. Shrinivas, who plays an electrified version—blends virtuoso classical improvisation with fleet-fingered jazz fusion, progressive rock moves, and some new-age keyboard programming. He manages all with surprisingly successful results. Waves of energy sparked by unbelievably fast picking ebb and flow throughout the album's 11 dazzling instrumentals. It's a kick to hear classical heavyweights, such as percussionist Zakir Hussain and slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya, play lighter yet livelier—and definitely shorter—compositions than you'd hear on their more orthodox albums. Ironically, the brevity leaves you appreciating the slow build of traditional ragas all the more.
"Nobody Left to Crown"
Verve
Richie Havens is both a blessing and a curse. His passionately strummed acoustic guitar and soulful folksinger's voice remain seemingly unchanged since he took the stage for his memorable Woodstock performance in 1969. And since our present historical situation strongly resembles that of the Vietnam era, his 27th album might as well be his first. Havens's original songs oscillate between hope and despair. "The Key" imagines a place where "truth and beauty still survive." The title track asks, "What if they gave an election and nobody came to vote?" As usual, though, Havens is strongest interpreting the work of others, which in this case includes Jackson Browne's "Lives in the Balance" and the album's hands-down hit, a strong, energetic, and eminently downloadable version of The Who's timeless "Won't Get Fooled Again."
U. Shrinivas
"Samjanitha"
Dreyfus
Although the mandolin was introduced to India in the early 20th century, it's still an uncommon instrument in Indian classical music—compared to the sitar and the sarod, for example. On "Samjanitha," the instrument's present master—U. Shrinivas, who plays an electrified version—blends virtuoso classical improvisation with fleet-fingered jazz fusion, progressive rock moves, and some new-age keyboard programming. He manages all with surprisingly successful results. Waves of energy sparked by unbelievably fast picking ebb and flow throughout the album's 11 dazzling instrumentals. It's a kick to hear classical heavyweights, such as percussionist Zakir Hussain and slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya, play lighter yet livelier—and definitely shorter—compositions than you'd hear on their more orthodox albums. Ironically, the brevity leaves you appreciating the slow build of traditional ragas all the more.
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