This Island Earth
Sunday January 7th, 2018 with Neil Bakshi
We'll listen to newly restored and released recordings of Ravi Shankar's theatrical opera "Ghanashyam - A Broken Branch". The musical was commissioned and performed in 1989, and hasn't been available to listen to until now.
| Starting off with a listen to some of the more acclaimed jazz releases in 2017. |
| The Locator Makaya McCraven - Highly Rare - International Anthem 
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| Garden of Bells (Trio with Dexter Story and Josh Johnson) Carlos Niño & Friends - Going Home - Leaving Records
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| The Space Between the Fish and the Moon Yazz Ahmed - La Saboteteuse - Naim Records
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| 2 Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York - Fukushima - Libra Records
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| Pineapple (Featuring Moses Boyd and Nerja) Blue Lab Beats - Xover - Society of Sound Music
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| Wejene Aola feat. Kamasi Washington Dexter Story - Single - Soundway |
| Nope Vijay Iyer Sextet - Far From Over - ECM
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| Listening Embrace Nicole Mitchell - Mandorla Awakening II: Emerging Worlds - FPE
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| Truth Kamasi Washington - Harmony of Difference - Young Turks
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| Er Ra Alice Coltrane - World Spirituality Classics 1: The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda - Luaka Bop
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| Clicky Clacky Collin Walcott, Don Cherry and Naná Vasconcelos - Codona 3 - ECM |
| Currents Kingsuk Biswas - Asian Travels, Vol. 1: A Six Degrees Collection - Six Degrees |
| In 1989, Ravi Shankar was commissioned by the Birmingham Touring Opera Company to compose a musical for performance. He delivered "Ghanashyam - A Broken Branch", that was performed by the company in 1990. A mostly instrumental production, the story is told through dance and some vocal segments.
The story revolves around two dancing families from opposite ends of the country who happily coexist until the leader of one turns to substance abuse under the influence of dubious holy men. Ultimately, it kills him, transforming the dancer into an angry spirit. He then possesses a female dancer from the other family that he has always fancied, leading to an exorcism and his spirit being drawn out with the falling of a branch. His widow then accepts his spirit into her body and dies. The recordings of this work has never been available in it's entirety until now. |
| Ghanashyam Introduction and Overture Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Temple Scene and Dance Practice Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Holi Colour Festival Song Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Festival Preparations Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Harahara Shankara Drug Pushers (Temptation) Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Monsoon and Rain Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Sadness and Intoxication Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Spring Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Drugs, Hallucinations, The Divine Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Demons and Struggle Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Love Song (Ashtapati of Jayadeva) Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Dishonesty, Chase, Death Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Shadows and Loss Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Pining Dream Illusion Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Fun - Possessed Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Exorcism, Death, Spirit Escape Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Shadows and Loss Reprise Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Another Day, Life Goes On Ravi Shankar - Ghanashyam: A Broken Branch - East and West
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| Violin (Group Improvisations) Oregon - The Essential Oregon - Vanguard |
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Hi Neil, Happy 2018! Energetic jazz--the perfect soundtrack while un-decorating the place!
1:25 PM, January 7th, 2018