Shakti | Artist

Shakti was a fusion band formed 1974 by English guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian violin player L. Shankar, and percussionists Zakir Hussain, Ramnad Raghavan, and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram. The band played acoustic fusion music which combined Indian music with elements of jazz. The group came together after the dissolution of the first incarnation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. They toured extensively during the period 1975-1977. Twenty years later McLaughlin and Hussain put together another band with the same concept, called Remember Shakti, including V.Selvaganesh (son of T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram), mandolin player U. Shrinivas and Shankar Mahadevan. The band's sound is characterised by McLaughlin's virtuoso guitar work in fusion with the equally virtuoso Indian classical musicians. They play original compositions that are influenced equally by McLaughlin's jazz style grounded in the work of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Miles Davis' ensemble before that, coupled with Hindustani and Carnatic music traditions. Shakti released three superb albums: Shakti with John McLaughlin (Live, 1976), A Handful of Beauty (1977) and Natural Elements (1977). Remember Shakti released three albums, the standout is Saturday Night in Bombay from 2001.

Artist Website: wikipedia/Shakti

Featured Albums: Shakti

Related Artists: John McLaughlin, Remember Shakti