Stalwarts Of Music with Aditya Veera ft. L. Shankar

[@RajanPadiachiSri]

A really great violinist and musician, I have been listening to him from 1978 with Violin trio, i heard him play for the Carnatic great vocalists as well, but the LP Records that really moved my universe was the LP produced in Madras which was Mohanam Ragam main item with Palghat TS mani Iyer and Zakir Hussain , LP " Whose to know" Ragam Savitri and another LP Ragam Abheri. I have written to the great Guru Shankar to get the Sahityam of the Savatri ragam composition , which he gladly sent to me in South Africa, I wish one day he can sing that composition (song ) its emotionally moving. Other greats LPs with John Gabarak and Chaurasia and others, I wish he can come back to play on the Carnatic music platform with Carnatic vocalists and flute players. in summary, a great man a great musician, a great legend.

[@TheShenkar]

Dear Aditya, it was great talking to you and revealing lots of information which I have never shared publicly before. You did an awesome job with your wonderful questions and I look forward to us crossing paths in the near future. All the best to you! Love, L. Shankar

[@GaryHusbandKeyboardsandDrums]

❤

[@meenakodaifern1447]

Please perform in India again, L Shankar. Loved everything concert of yours.

[@GaryHusbandKeyboardsandDrums]

What a wonderful interview with the immense L Shankar!! Have been (since the ‘70s) in awe of his otherworldly beautiful and incredible voice on violin. What a pleasure to hear and learn so much about him here. Fabulous Thank you again for another great interview Aditya! Bravo sir!! 🙏👏

[@ivonsmith4255]

A rare interview that many have not managed to achieve Aditya. Your work is great in speaking with our musical hero's of decades like Shankar has been in the past. He has been a true genius musician in the past. His versions of Shakti experiences are interesting at least. We all have our own versions of full truth. Shankar too. Thank you for your great works keep up the speaking with our hero's of music. You have strong karma to manage to do this at this time in the world. Thank you.

[@Olivia-oi8mm]

A rare insight indeed, one that only someone at the level of L. Shankar can provide. Finally, we get to hear his side of the story, and he shows such professionalism - despite the injustices that have happened to him, he still wishes them well and speaks highly of their talent. It's the mark of a true musician's professionalism, someone who respects the art. His contribution to music and the sheer amount of dedication and work he has put in are truly remarkable. It's sad that people couldn't recognize this living genius. Maybe once he's gone, people will realize - but that will be too late.

[@adityaveera1994]

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[@jignyasupurush9935]

Thanks Aditya.I was always wondering why this legend is not a part of Shakti anymore. Whatever be the reasons it is a loss for music especially to the Shakti fans. Hope some miracle happens and they play together.

[@adityaveera1994]

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[@RonanSkillen8]

Such a great interview. Thank you, Aditya and L. Shankar for all this insight. I’m astounded, elated and saddened by so much of what Shankar talks about here. His virtuosic musical offerings, and understanding of East/West collaboration has been a large part of my daily soundtrack and education. The early Shakti albums, as well as Who’s To Know and Song For Everyone on ECM, are rare gems. I hope, for the sake of karma and respect, that in the murky, behind the scenes world of the music industry, Shankar, John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain can find each other again and make peace. 🙏🏽

[@adityaveera1994]

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[@dsvraaj6488]

Dear Aditya, I must congratulate you for such an in depth interview with legendary L. Shankar watched it two times. I had a tears in my eyes when I saw it first time few days ago. Its really sad fact that he was sidelined from Shakti although it was brainchild of his ideas and compositions. Nevertheless, that's life and thanks a lot for bringing various topics and the things that I never knew before. Keep up the good work my friend. :)

[@Suryeon55]

I applaud L Shankar for speaking out. It’s what all of us suspected for years anyway. More musicians and people should speak out like this, no matter how long it’s been. Most of them probably won’t or can’t because they have their own interest to protect in the industry. Yes it may be bitter to hear especially fans of those people because the truth burst the bubble of the saintly image they have created.

[@adityaveera1994]

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[@RicardoMarlowFlamenco]

At 1:50:00 there is a claim about mechanicals etc. record jacket states otherwise. CBS owns first album, but Mclaughlin composition controled by Warner -Tamerlane and his crazy Guru chimnoy (who we know stole both money and girlfriend from poor John 😂). Meanwhile Shankar music is separately controlled by Seethalakshmi music INC. BMI gives mechanical royalties to those companies stated. So the claim John gets ALL royalties doesn’t make much sense. What does make sense is that CBS uses his name for marketing since he was already famous and this project was commercially dangerous for the record company. More likely the issue is John is given PRODUCER credit. Shankar would have done better if he could get that credit because then he would have gotten residuals from sales… but as he said “we would lose equally” referring to gambling on commercial success (and honestly, by comparison, Shakti was not a commercial success back then, only after reunion tours).

[@unearthnoise4975]

this is really sad. the idea that Shankar, a musical hero, feels that he has to demean JM and Zakir is beyond belief. I can not for one second believe his claims that these masterful musicians did not want to practice, or that McLaughlin would call Hendrix - who he has always spoke highly of - "shit". I don't believe a word of it.

[@RicardoMarlowFlamenco]

Probably from his perspective this is all true. However, there are many contradictions here… like is Indian music too deep and disciplined for non Indians to play proper (53:13,59:11), or is music for everyone in the world? You can’t have it both ways. There is a difference between being humble playing with “lesser” artists, vs opportunistic collaborating with established Pop icons… one doesn’t justify the other. Need to reherse or no go… but be humble, you are on in 45 minutes!!!😂. So lots of contradiction. And the (blonde) elephant in the room was not addressed and might be relevant to certain decisions.

[@unearthnoise4975]

@@RicardoMarlowFlamenco It always makes me sad when great musicians bad-mouth each other. I'll say this: I've never heard JM or Zakir say a negative word about Shankar - or any other musician for that matter. I'm sure Shankar has his reasons to feel somehow cheated, but to claim these master wouldn't practice just sounds ridiculous to me. I saw Shakti last year and they were stunningly brilliant and technically mind-blowing.

[@RicardoMarlowFlamenco]

@@unearthnoise4975 Yes it is upsetting to us fans. Shankar is the greatest violin in the world for me. I was thinking at first John and Zakir lied about not being able to reach him because they did not want to get into issues of working together. Even the rehearsal thing JOHN said “we already have rehearsed with Srinivas… it is too late now”, so not willing to rehearse is an excuse. But at 1:48:40…he basically admits he actually WAS in Africa out of contact for 2 months. So they didn’t lie at all, it is like they said. Why should they harass Peter Gabriel to either find him or set up an agreement, if they had no clue where he was or when he might return? It all sounds like it was a bad timing and no need for these hard feelings etc. For sure Shakti is not 90% Shankar’s creation, as the group has done amazing things since those days and the new album I enjoy as much as Natural Elements. It is a shame it didn’t work out. In the end it is better the bad energy stays out of the music.