| Bhavani Shankar | ||
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?1950–; no stylistic affiliation |
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| Bhavani Shankar might in some ways be thought of as the Zakir of pakhavaj (indeed, he plays in Zakir's group "Rhythm Experience"): he has done more than anyone to bring the instrument into the popular domain, although the consequences of that effort are not especially to my liking. He has played on popular and devotional albums, worked with fusion groups, and worked with instrumentalists outside the domain of dhrupad. As a consequence of this, and of his kathak background (his father, Babu Lal, was a dancer) his playing is often more closely related to tabla and to kathak than that of any other contemporary player, and his audiences tend to respond more positively to that style. Here, Bhavani Shankar plays in fast tintal (another concession to tabla). I do like his energy and drive: here he recites and plays a chakradar in misra jati (sevens), which he calls jhulna gati ("swinging gait"). | ||