Ragas and Sagas explained

Ragas and Sagas
Type:Album
Artist:Jan Garbarek & Ustad Fateh Ali Khan
Cover:Ragas and Sagas.jpg
Released:1992
Recorded:May 1990
Genre:Jazz
Length:52:15
Label:ECM
ECM 1442
Producer:Manfred Eicher
Chronology:Jan Garbarek
Prev Title:I Took Up the Runes
Prev Year:1990
Next Title:StAR
Next Year:1991

Ragas and Sagas is an album by Norwegian jazz saxophonist Jan Garbarek and Pakistani Khyal vocalist Ustad Fateh Ali Khan recorded in May 1990 and released on ECM in 1992. The sextet features sarangi player Ustad Nazim Ali Khan, percussionists Ustad Shaukat Hussain and Manu Katché, and singer Deepika Thathaal, also known as Deeyah Khan.[1]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Mark W. B. Allender awarded the album 4 stars stating "For aficionados of Indian or Pakistani music, this is a great recording; Garbarek's lines are right in step with the traditional styles of improvisation. Listeners unacquainted with these traditions will find this recording a mesmerizingly exotic disc. Those familiar with Garbarek's work will be very surprised. This is a unique recording for him; one can only hope that he makes further explorations in this vein."[2]

Track listing

All compositions by Ustad Fateh Ali Khan except as indicated

  1. "Raga I" – 8:44
  2. "Saga" (Jan Garbarek) – 5:28
  3. "Raga II" – 13:08
  4. "Raga III" – 11:56
  5. "Raga IV" – 12:56

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/ECM/1400/1442.php ECM discography
  2. Allender, M. W. B. Allmusic Review accessed October 3, 2011