MUMBAI: A Conversation – Violin & Sarangi is the first time two brilliant instruments are coming together for a jugalbandhi both being bowed & fretless instruments.  It’s interesting to hear how these instruments produce strikingly different tones, timbre, resonance, range and emotions.

The artists have chosen a scale which is Sampoorna in nature (having all 7 notes in the ascent and descent) and common to both Hindustani & Carnatic system of music. Raga Chakravaham in the Carnatic system has its counterpart in Raga Ahir Bhairav in the Hindustani system of music. The entire Chakravaham/Ahirbhairav has been recorded without any editing thus retaining the magic and spontaneity in this musical masterpiece.

Murad Ali and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi share a very good rapport and understanding which clearly shows in this album as they have played along and expressed their imagination and given artistic touches to each other’s lead pieces.

A scintillating Thillana composed by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi in Raga Shudh Sarang adds lilt to this album.  Shudh Sarang, which is mainly a Hindustani Raga with "dwi madhyamam" has been captured beautifully by her in this Thillana. The electrifying, crisp and precise percussion dialogue after the main piece highlights the perfect accompaniment provided by seasoned & superbly talented percussionists Patri Satish on the mridangam and Akram Khan on the tabla.

Another great value add to this album is the skillful recording, mixing and mastering by renowned recordist Mr. Sai Sravanam at his studio "Resound India". The special use of ambience mics apart from the regular studio mics to capture the overtones of each instrument as they would sound in a hall has definitely made this recording a class apart.

‘In conversation – The Violin & Sarangi’ by Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi & Murad Ali’ on EMI Music will be in the markets next week.

‘Meera & Me’ is the latest release of singer Sanjeevani Bhelande on EMI Music. This album features famous Meera Bhajans like Payoji Maine, Mere Toh Girdhar Gopal, Pag Ghunghroo Bandh in a fresh musical approach. A unique feature of this album is that all songs are sung in both English and Hindi. The original Meera bhajan in Hindi along with its meaning (translation) sung in English by Sanjeevani herself. Sanjeevani Bhelande is a playback singer who shot to fame with the famous movie Kareeb and her song – Chori Chori Jab Nazre Mili. She was also a winner of the famous music talent show Sa Re Ga Ma.