About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

The heart of Indian music is its vocal traditions -- most of the great instrumental styles attempt to approximate the voice through strings and reeds. Among the major court-based traditions was Atrauli-Jaipur. Mallikarjun Mansur, the leading representative of this lineage for nearly half a century, left many recordings, and nearly all are eloquent performances. Few Indian singers have achieved the natural, vibrato-free delivery and continuity that Mansur displayed. Although this live recording was made when he was 70, his flexibility and mastery of the rapid khyal-style singing remained unaffected by age. This specific performance is unique as well. The complex raga "Marwa" projects emotional and psychological disorientation. Mansur underlines the musical turbulence in an artless manner, creating surprises through phrasing and trivializing of the only tone capable of giving this raga any stability. It is an exceptional performance of a quirky, haunting raga. Allan Evans, Barnes & Noble

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