Korus (hear it)

"It's a kind of World music, yet quite distinctive in style; light evocative and interesting.Speedyish percussion often underlies quite soft and dreamy vocals and delightfully rippling kora. Sensitive, atmospheric and a quite exotic quality. Excelent world music with a vibe"

New Insight...(Brighton's listings magazine)

'After four years of experimenting, Ravi presents his definitive sound. While its true most kora players are bewitched by the spirits, Ravi holds the spirits high'

FolkWorld

Kora So Far (hear it)

For those of you who miss Oregon, along comes Ravi. This release is a sort of greatest hits collection of ambient music recorded between 1986 and the present. Ravi plays kora, hammer dulcimer and a host of other instruments. he has a stable of fine musicians backing him up. The music has a graceful flow. Good background music for a quiet evening from Dirty Linen May '99

Ravi is a virtuoso living in London. Kora So Far is a melodic and atmospheric mix of some of his best music. THE TIMES

Folk Roots Review Oct '98

I always disliked the term 'world music'.It's as if here in the sophisticated west we have a million subdivisions of music but the rest of the planet produces 'world music' be it folk, pop or whatever. Ravi, produces world music. But in this case there realy is no better way to describe it. his main instrument is the kora but he also plays keyboards, hammered dulcimer and much besides. He also has guests to provide tablas and a host of instruments from around the world rarely heard in the mainstream. The music itself is truly eclectic; Unity has a distinct Indian flavour while others go in opposite directions stretching across the globe. But rather than dwelling on each tune and its influences this is simply a collection of varied and brilliant tunes. Despite the diversity, the production and arrangements give the album coherance and a certain commercial sheen which would sit very nicely in Peter Gabriel's Realworld stable. The tunes are often upbeat and uplifting but have subtleties to keep the music fresh after many listens. "Splendid."

MISTRAL "Forest of Bliss". FOLK ROOTS

Mistral are India's Ronu Majumdar (flute), Tarun Bhattacharya (santoor) and England's Ravi (kora) on an equally atmospheric, gentle and spellbinding blend.

KINDRED SPIRIT ( March - May)

Features R. Majumdar (bansoori flute), J.P. Freeman/Ravi (kora), T. Bhattacharya (santoor and drum), Shib Shankar Ray (tablas), and M. Balachandar (mridangam). The kora is a wonderful stringed instrument form West Africa and is certainly very well, and very unconventionally, played by Ravi.

It sounds similar to a Paraguayan harp, but it can be played quicker. Its sound is very beautiful, as is Ravi's playing. The album brings a fresh new combination of traditional Indian instruments and musical styles, as well as Ravi's creative impulses. Gentle, strong, wide and generous strings of notes, between meditative and melodic. See also other excellent records by Ravi, such as Kora Colours and Tribal Gathering, ROCK 'N' REEL

MISTRAL is an act that sees the African and Indian continents merge basically. It's that man Ravi again, collaborating with Tarun Bhattacharya and Ronu Majumdar, both highly regarded musicians in their native India and who also appear on Ravi Shankar's most recent CD (produced by George Harrison).

The recording possesses a similar magic to that present on Ry Cooder's 'ethnic' collaborations. There's an air of spontaneity throughout and, unlike some 'classical' Indian music, the compositions don't seem to go on forever. The kora playing is suggestive of a Celtic influence, and at times - when the flute and kora gel - some of this could be mistaken for a Gaelic slow air. A rich, regal sound, 'Forest of Bliss' is a listening delight. ROCK 'N' REEL

'KORA COLOURS' is Ravi's solo album from 1991 (a new solo CD is due soon) on which he combines his instrumental talents with those of various eastern and western musicians.

Ravi himself also plays guitar, mandolin, bass, keyboards, a variety of percussive instruments, and handles lead vocals, too. It's certainly an attractive sound - reminiscent of Osibisa and Santana at times, with everything underpinned by Ravi's melodically colourful (hence the title, presumably) kora work. Some pieces even reveal a Celtic flavour or two, as on 'Oh Yes'. ROCK 'N' REEL

TERRA INCOGNITA was a three-piece act Ravi put together through the early 90s. 'Tribal Gathering', their second CD once again saw his kora taking centre stage, with an impressive and sterling array of instrumental support. There's more of an eastern angle, with the other band members adding sitar and flutes, tambora and sarod. As well as trying to produce more authentic African/Indian soundscapes there are some very agreeable ethnic flavoured pop-rock on display. Watch out, too, for the tongue-in-cheek pun(k) 'Never Mind the Pandits'. CALDUCIUS

TERRA INCOGNITA: Tribal Gathering

The tribes gather and bring with them their strings and flutes, their synths and drums, and especially their grooves. Tribal Gathering are Ravi and Joshua who have brought together a collection of styles from Latin to Middle Eastern, African, India and Balkan. All done with such a light, sinuous hand. The musicianship is stunning too, on ethnic instruments from all other the world, giving a sense of colour to the mix. There's even a rap with words of wacky Zen-like irony. It all goes to show that if you get the right groove, the music moves you and you don't have to make the effort to dance to it.

Fire of the Oracle: Suvarna

This is Suvarna's debut album. She draws inspiration from Osho, and the music is a fusion of smooth, sequenced keyboard sounds, Sanskrit mantras and Indian instruments, such as shanai and tabla. Suvarna's brother Ravi, provides some vocal backing and a lot of the instrumentation, playing keyboards, kora, guitar and adding some vocals. He also did most of the production. Suvarna has a delightful voice which can soar high on some of the ragas. There's a 'mid-level' drive, verging on dance at times, and also a warmth to the album, Eastern scales and mantra providing imagery enhanced by Western harmonies and sensitive production. It's a fine debut, a great fusion of India and mild, melodic techno. - reviewed in New Insight