What do you think is Rahul Sharma's best New Age album?

[hundredstrings]

As you know, Rahul Sharma's two greatest achievements are:

1. Achieving mastery over santoor and becoming a successful performing artist in a short span of time
2. Bringing a new dimension to santoor by giving it a New Age touch and making it look 'cool' to the younger generation

Given that Rahul is expanding his fan base his creative forays into the realm of New Age music, this poll attempts to read the pulse of his listeners.

[Sumanth Sharma]

You missed Music of the Himalayas
Its enchanting

[hundredstrings]

Sumanth,

"Music of the Himalayas" is based on santoor alone and it is mostly classical / light classical.  That's why I didn't include it in the "New Age" list.
I agree, it is a great album.

Cheers,
HPR

[hundredstrings]

Panditji's Picks:

Here is what Pandit Shivkumar Sharma likes most in Rahul's New Age albums:

    Kashmir -> "Kehwa Aur Kangdi [The Kashmiri Tea]"
    Time Traveler -> "Traveling to New Orleans" and "Departing Souls"

He says that "Traveling to New Orleans" is a very difficult composition to play on santoor.  Full credit to Rahul's techniques and creativity.

[Sumanth Sharma]

1:1 question to HPR.

Do you know SSS personally?

[hundredstrings]

Yes, I do, since 1995.

[Sumanth Sharma]

Hey HPR,

   I need help.
   I visited three major Music shops in Bangalore, Calypso, Music world and Temptation M.

    The only new Rahul Sharma albums they carry is ...

   1) Ladakh
   2) Maya the Illusion
   3) Time Traveller
    and May be i saw Zen

I did not find the Kashimi/Jannat, Confluence, Sweet Romance etc that you spoke about, also tell me which of those three should I buy for a first attempt.

I listened to Maya a little, over Real Rapshody, well to be frank I personally was not bowled over by the attempt, full credit to the talent and rendering, however that piece did not appeal to be that greatly as do his "Music of the Himalayas" and his other classical pieces and his Legendary Father's.

How is 1) and 3) ?

[hundredstrings]

Interesting...  Even I am yet to be very impressed with either Maya or Ladakh  -- may be I will like them more once I listen to them repeatedly.  One thing I can say is that both the albums are very well packaged and extremely well recorded.  But, that's not the sufficient qualification for a great album.

I liked Zen very much.  And I like White more than Maya & Ladakh.

Here is how I would order Rahul's New Age albums, best things first (as said earlier, Music of the Himalayas doesn't qualify as a "New Age" album):

Kashmir / Jannat
The Confluence
Zen
Time Traveler [except for so many repeats; "Traveling to New Orleans" and "Departing Souls" are the best tracks]
Essence of India
Sweet Romance
White
Maya
Ladakh

It is surprising that you didn't find Kashmir in the leading shops.  Do you have access to iTunes?  It is available there... (of course, you need a US/UK credit card for it ;-))  "Essence of India" was made specifically for the Leela Palace Hotel and hence it is not avaialble as a CD anywhere in the world.  We at Shatatantri released it on iTunes since Rahul Sharma had the digital rights.