Product Description
Reissue of 1977 album by legendary jazz-rock guitarist McLaughlin with his world music group Shakti, the second of three records he cut with them. Six tracks.
Handful of Beauty,Shakti,Sony Int'l,Jazz,Pop
Average customer rating:
- 5+
- McLaughlin at his best.
- Shakti & McLaughlin's Very Best
- More than a handful of beauty
- I am shocked and baffled.
|
A Handful of Beauty
Shakti
Manufacturer: Sbme Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
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Similar Items:
- Natural Elements
- Shakti with John McLaughlin
- Remember Shakti: Saturday Night in Bombay
- Remember Shakti: The Believer
- Electric Guitarist
ASIN: B00000JM4S
Release Date: 1999-05-17 |
Tracks:
- La Danse
- Du Bonheur
- Lady L
- India
- Kriti
- Isis
- Two Sisters
Album Description
Reissue of 1977 album by legendary jazz-rock guitarist McLaughlin with his world music group Shakti, the second of three records he cut with them. Six tracks.
Customer Reviews:
5+.......2007-03-12
I saw this group live when I was 16, on accident, while obligating my job as a theatre usher in a Berkeley Ca. theatre. I stayed the entire concert and walked out afterwards, blown away forever... To this day, there has been few concert experiences which have touched the power that this occasion displayed. I'll never forget. This album captures this- better than the first Shakti Live and Natural Elements or any Remember Shakti CD. It is somewhere inbetween the two original Shakti albums; live spontanaeity and planned recording, but there is a shot of infinite soul and unmatched inspiration in the solos, emotion and feeling which is not as present in the other 2. Shakti Live is intensely raw but less refined in musical craft and recording. Natural Elements is so crafted and beautiful but almost too controlled... with not enough free time to take it to the level they were all capable of.
This recording captures a phenomenally innovative group at the height of their improvisational power- bar none.
McLaughlin at his best........2005-06-17
Shakti's second album, and first studio album, in my opinion is the best album John ever recorded. John's guitar skills are masterful as he intertwines his leads with Zakir's tabla and Vikku's ghatam. Shakar's violon on La Danse Du Bonheur is awesome. Check out Lady L for one of John's best solos. Kriti is also awesome. Buy this album if you are a guitarist, jazz fan, indian fusion fan, or actually just buy this album because it is genius. It is unfortunate that Shakti only released three cd's but I am thankful for the music that they gave us.
Shakti & McLaughlin's Very Best.......2004-08-21
So you've heard Remember Shakti, and now you want to hear more. Every time I listen to the new material I think the band should be called Remember Shtickti, because that's what it's about these days. Their shtick? Slow, meditative beginnings...the introuduction of rhythm...fiery solos...finally, call and response climaxes. Be that as it may, the guys that do this these days - McLaughlin and his South Asian comrades - are all top-notch virtuosos, so even that sort of predictable music is wildly entertaining (unless you really know and dig Hindustani music, which makes Remember Shakti sound like Indo-Enya or Indo-Yanni). However, when you hear "Handful of Beauty" you will be hearing a work of true genius. Every cut is amazing. There is an epic, forlorn quality to this music that's very much missing from their modern stuff. John McLaughlin's playing (my opinion, obviously) reached its absolute peak in this time period. The guitar he cradles on the cover was like an extension of his brain. He's obviously well-versed in Indian aesthetics and technique, as he never descends into "exotic-sounding" playing, i.e. dipping into chromatic and harmonic minor scales, a la Roger McGuinn, Yngwie Malmsteen, or even Jimmy Page. Some of his most virtuoistic, soulful and sincere playing is to be found on this recording. While perhaps not on par with that of the greatest Indian musicians in an Indian context, it is still exceptional. Then again, he's not *trying* to be an Indian musician, but rather, apply his knowledge of Indian music and filtering it through his years of jazz, rock and fusion experience. No duh, right? Anyway, this is a true gem of an album. It surpasses their debut and subsequent album as well. As wicked as songs like "Joy" and "What Need Have I for This? What Need Have I for That? I Am Standing at the Feet of My Lord...All is Bliss...All is Bliss" are, the muddy production and thin-sounding instruments of the first album seriously detract from the album's overall quality. The third album ("Natural Elements") is good, but the songs are shorter and some are a little hokey too. They never quite reach the heights they seek, though one song on "Natural..." does feature one of McLaughlin's coolest-ever funky strumming riffs, one that cleverly uses both his normal six strings and the eleven drone strings. "Handful of Beauty" reaches into the stratosphere and stays put for the duration. The quiet longing and classic McLaughlin harmonies in the last piece, a violin/guitar duet, are an amazing finale. Did I mention violinist L Shankar? He's monstrous on this album. So are Zakir Hussain and Vikku Vinyakaram, but they're not the focal points for this album, though it would be incomplete without them. BUY THIS!!!!!!
More than a handful of beauty.......2004-08-13
This is a world of beauty, not just a handful! It is Shakti's best album in my opinion, showcasing some of the greatest skill and sweetest music. If you have just heard about Shakti and want to try their music, I would recommend "Natural Elements" above this one, as it is easier to "get into". But if you like that, you must DEFINITELY buy this one, you are gauranteed to just love it.
I am shocked and baffled........2003-02-26
For the most incredibly intense percussion performance ever in the entire world (WIN), you must hear "Isis" from this CD. Ok, go buy it now.
Average customer rating:
- peace of shakti
- Intense individual and interpersonal musicianship
|
A Handful of Beauty
Shakti
Manufacturer: Sony/Columbia
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Jazz Fusion
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Jazz
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B00004Y7YJ
Release Date: 1996-01-08 |
Tracks:
- Danse du Bonheur
- Lady L
- India
- Kriti
- Isis
- Two Sisters
Customer Reviews:
peace of shakti.......2003-04-11
Beautiful album.a handful of beauty indeed......John at the absolute height of his powers..never quite reaching such a peak of creativity again ,great though a lot of his works are
Saw Shakti perform this music in the '70's and for me was one of the most stunning performances ever!
A Handful of Beauty?......most certainly.......so grab yourself a handful now before this gem disappears into the vaults at Sony
Derek Pritchard
Intense individual and interpersonal musicianship.......2002-11-27
This is simply a brilliant album. The interplay between the musicians on this album is very deep and intense. One of the most amazing and creative amalgams of jazz and Indian music. I have played this album for many people who wouldn't normally listen to East Indian music and they have been struck the same way. John McLaughlin's work on this album (with the specially made guitar that has tapered, or carved-out, frets to allow very sitar-like bends and a set of strings running diagonally across the body of the guitar to simulate the sympathetic strings underneath a sitar) is dazzling. Before I heard this, I had no idea that you could play an acoustic guitar like that! Beautifully recorded, this album is highly recommened to anyone.
Average customer rating:
- 5+
- McLaughlin at his best.
- Shakti & McLaughlin's Very Best
- More than a handful of beauty
- I am shocked and baffled.
|
A Handful of Beauty
Shakti
Manufacturer: Tristar
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| International
| Styles
| Music
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Jazz Fusion
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Fusion & World Fusion
| Compilations
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Natural Elements
- Shakti with John McLaughlin
- Remember Shakti: Saturday Night in Bombay
- Remember Shakti: The Believer
- Electric Guitarist
ASIN: B0000020HY
Release Date: 1994-08-19 |
Tracks:
- Danse du Bonheur
- Lady L
- India
- Kriti
- Isis
- Two Sisters
Album Description
Sony. 1998.
Customer Reviews:
5+.......2007-03-12
I saw this group live when I was 16, on accident, while obligating my job as a theatre usher in a Berkeley Ca. theatre. I stayed the entire concert and walked out afterwards, blown away forever... To this day, there has been few concert experiences which have touched the power that this occasion displayed. I'll never forget. This album captures this- better than the first Shakti Live and Natural Elements or any Remember Shakti CD. It is somewhere inbetween the two original Shakti albums; live spontanaeity and planned recording, but there is a shot of infinite soul and unmatched inspiration in the solos, emotion and feeling which is not as present in the other 2. Shakti Live is intensely raw but less refined in musical craft and recording. Natural Elements is so crafted and beautiful but almost too controlled... with not enough free time to take it to the level they were all capable of.
This recording captures a phenomenally innovative group at the height of their improvisational power- bar none.
McLaughlin at his best........2005-06-17
Shakti's second album, and first studio album, in my opinion is the best album John ever recorded. John's guitar skills are masterful as he intertwines his leads with Zakir's tabla and Vikku's ghatam. Shakar's violon on La Danse Du Bonheur is awesome. Check out Lady L for one of John's best solos. Kriti is also awesome. Buy this album if you are a guitarist, jazz fan, indian fusion fan, or actually just buy this album because it is genius. It is unfortunate that Shakti only released three cd's but I am thankful for the music that they gave us.
Shakti & McLaughlin's Very Best.......2004-08-21
So you've heard Remember Shakti, and now you want to hear more. Every time I listen to the new material I think the band should be called Remember Shtickti, because that's what it's about these days. Their shtick? Slow, meditative beginnings...the introuduction of rhythm...fiery solos...finally, call and response climaxes. Be that as it may, the guys that do this these days - McLaughlin and his South Asian comrades - are all top-notch virtuosos, so even that sort of predictable music is wildly entertaining (unless you really know and dig Hindustani music, which makes Remember Shakti sound like Indo-Enya or Indo-Yanni). However, when you hear "Handful of Beauty" you will be hearing a work of true genius. Every cut is amazing. There is an epic, forlorn quality to this music that's very much missing from their modern stuff. John McLaughlin's playing (my opinion, obviously) reached its absolute peak in this time period. The guitar he cradles on the cover was like an extension of his brain. He's obviously well-versed in Indian aesthetics and technique, as he never descends into "exotic-sounding" playing, i.e. dipping into chromatic and harmonic minor scales, a la Roger McGuinn, Yngwie Malmsteen, or even Jimmy Page. Some of his most virtuoistic, soulful and sincere playing is to be found on this recording. While perhaps not on par with that of the greatest Indian musicians in an Indian context, it is still exceptional. Then again, he's not *trying* to be an Indian musician, but rather, apply his knowledge of Indian music and filtering it through his years of jazz, rock and fusion experience. No duh, right? Anyway, this is a true gem of an album. It surpasses their debut and subsequent album as well. As wicked as songs like "Joy" and "What Need Have I for This? What Need Have I for That? I Am Standing at the Feet of My Lord...All is Bliss...All is Bliss" are, the muddy production and thin-sounding instruments of the first album seriously detract from the album's overall quality. The third album ("Natural Elements") is good, but the songs are shorter and some are a little hokey too. They never quite reach the heights they seek, though one song on "Natural..." does feature one of McLaughlin's coolest-ever funky strumming riffs, one that cleverly uses both his normal six strings and the eleven drone strings. "Handful of Beauty" reaches into the stratosphere and stays put for the duration. The quiet longing and classic McLaughlin harmonies in the last piece, a violin/guitar duet, are an amazing finale. Did I mention violinist L Shankar? He's monstrous on this album. So are Zakir Hussain and Vikku Vinyakaram, but they're not the focal points for this album, though it would be incomplete without them. BUY THIS!!!!!!
More than a handful of beauty.......2004-08-13
This is a world of beauty, not just a handful! It is Shakti's best album in my opinion, showcasing some of the greatest skill and sweetest music. If you have just heard about Shakti and want to try their music, I would recommend "Natural Elements" above this one, as it is easier to "get into". But if you like that, you must DEFINITELY buy this one, you are gauranteed to just love it.
I am shocked and baffled........2003-02-26
For the most incredibly intense percussion performance ever in the entire world (WIN), you must hear "Isis" from this CD. Ok, go buy it now.
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