Then and Now: The Music of the Masters Continues

by Bret LoveGiven that sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan ranks among the most respected musicians in the Indian classical music community, it comes as little surprise that this two-CD set is brilliant from start to finish. The first disc is a 1955 recording of a young Khan, brought to America by renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin (who is also credited with discovering the then-unknown Ravi Shankar) to record the first album of Indian classical music ever released in the West. The second disc, recorded live in the mid-'90s, features Khan accompanied by tabla master Zakir Hussain, whose nimble rhythms lead Khan's ragas to dizzying heights of ecstacy. A stirring encapsulation of Khan's 40-year career, Then & Now serves as both a great introduction for those unfamiliar with his work and a suitable addition to any longtime fan's collection.