Delhi to Damascus

This album is predicated on the idea that by changing just a few elements of a musical style or tradition it is possible to invoke, or fit in with, a completely different type of music. For example, substituting a note in a raga could turn it into an Arabic maqam, or by varying the instrumentation within a tradition it takes on the flavour of another. Sandeep Das took this concept and applied it to his own musical tradition, Hindustani, and that of Syria, courtesy of oud player Kinan Adnawi. While some might have a few questions about the basic premise, what it has done is produce a very fine album of music.

The playing is flawless from all the musicians here; Sandeep Das is a renowned tabla player and the oud playing is superb, but I was particularly taken by the sarangi of Suhail Yusuf Khan on ‘Virah: The Longing’. The opening track, ‘Parvaaz e Noor: Flight of Light’, exemplifies how well the combination of oud and Indian instruments can be, with a superb introduction from Kinan Adnawi. The final track, ‘Usha’, also achieves a very satisfying synthesis, while the sitar of Rajib Karmakar on ‘Shiva-Shakti’ is one of the highlights of Delhi to Damascus and, this time, a track that is firmly rooted in Hindustani tradition.