The Classical Indian Collection is a unique double CD exploring the many subtle connections that bridge Indian and Western classical music.  Avoiding the more fashionable East-West fusion exemplified by the dance-floor Asian underground, it draws its downtempo, blissful power from strong arrangements (Talvin Singh), ethereal flutes (Hariprasad Chaurasia), hypnotic percussion (Zakir Hussain) and the languid, cascading notes of the sitar (Ravi Shankar).

Sourced diversely from symphonic classical fusions, Indo-jazz projects, Hindi movie soundtracks and downtempo, more clubby fusions of the Asian diaspora, The Classical Indian Collection assembles the very best musicians and singers and the very best sounds. As compiler John Lewis (Time Out’s world music editor) says: "This is powerful music for relaxation and meditation, but it is also compelling, complex and utterly beautiful material that demands your attention”.

The recordings range across the decades, some dating from the 1960s (fusions involving Ravi Shankar and John Mayer); others from the most contemporary electronic hybrids (U Srinivas & Michael Brook, Tom Noble, Badmarsh And Shri). The familiar sounds of Indian classical music are here – from the sitar, tabla, the drone-like tampoura and the bowed sarangi – but also there are contributions from two instruments common to both Indian and European music – the violin (John Mayer, Yehudi Menuhin) and the flute (Rakesh Chaurasia and his father, the legendary Hariprasad).

The Classical Indian Collection is a brilliant exposé of an organic musical tradition, whose roots date back thousands of years yet its practitioners sound absolutely contemporary.

Tracklisting:

CD 1

1. Ravi Shankar 'Genesis Theme' / The star of Indian Classical Music

2. Talvin Singh & Rakesh Chaurasia 'Heaven' / Indian flute maestro with Mercury Music Prize winning star

3. Amar 'Tere Bina' / Produced by Nitin Sawhney, strings by Jolly Mukherjee

4. Alice Coltrane 'Radhe-Shyam' / John Coltrane's widow feat the Satori Quartet

5. Didier Lockwood & Raghunath Manet 'An Indian In Dublin' / Led by multi-instrumentalist Lockwood.

6. Kronos Quartet 'Aaj Ki Raat' / Classic RD Burman Bollywood song feat Zakir Hussain

7. Natacha Atlas 'Adam's Lullaby' / Co-written by Jocelyn Pook feat Prague Symphony Orchestra

8. Mychael Danna 'Love and Marigolds' / Monsoon Wedding

9. Nitin Sawhney 'Ranjha' / World Music star feat Jayante Bose

10. Hariprasad Chaurasia & L'Orchestre Transes Europeennes 'Sandhya Shree' / Indian Bamboo flute master

11. Trilok Gurtu 'Om' (Phil Mison Mix) / Indian percussionist legend

12. Badmarsh And Shri 'Appa' / From the stunning album 'Signs'

13. Karsh Kale 'Cinematic Reprise' / Tabla virtuoso with Madras Chamber Orchestra

CD 2
 

1. Michael Nyman 'Sangam: Three Ways of Describing Rain - iii. Dhyan: Meditation' / Grammy-winning composer

2. Debashish Bhattacharya & Bob Brozman 'Lullabai' / Laid back fusion of Indian music and blues.

3. Rohan De Saram & Druvi De Saram 'Tihai' (from Prabhanda) / Written by Indo-jazz pioneer John Mayer

4. Yehudi Menuhin, Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha 'Prabhati' / From Grammy-winning album 

5. Emam & Friends (feat Zakir Hussain) 'Malkino' / Feat percussion maestro Hussain

6. John Mayer 'Anton B In Poonamallee' / Reworking of a classic Bruckner theme

7. Ravi Shankar, Terence Emery, LSO and André Previn 'Concerto for Sitar & Orchestra' / Feat Andre Previn's London Symphony Orchestra

8. Niraj Chag 'Sanatan' / String-laden ambient piece from leading British Asian composer.

9. Midival Punditz 'Night' / Feat vocals by the beautiful Smriti Minocha

10. Tom Noble 'Bollyweird' / Modern Classical Indian interpretation 
11. U Srinivas & Michael Brook 'Run' / Feat Nigel Kennedy and Nana Vasconcelos

12. Shivkumar Sharma & Hariprasad Chaurasia 'Love' / Gentle classical Indian masterpiece

13. Ustad Sultan Khan & Zakir Hussain 'Rajasthani Folk Song' / India's Sarangi Master Meets Master Percussionist