Ghazal: Shujaat Husain Khan (vocals, sitar); Kayhan Kalhor (kamancheh); Sandeep Das (tabla).
Recorded on May 28, 2001.
THE RAIN was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album.
These haunting, hypnotic pieces of virtuoso performances by Ghazal are based on Indian and Persian traditional music, and beautifully demonstrate the full potential of kamancheh and sitar. At times, it is hard to believe these three songs are improvised, such is the strength of the trio's understanding of each other's musical instincts. These players reap as much from the instruments as they can, frequently turning out sounds that mimic many other instruments, including gypsy violin, flute, and bassoon. Shujaat Husain Khan (who is descended from seven generations of musical masters) captures the sound of both the human voice and the natural environment, exemplified by conversation near a snapping, crackling blaze in "Fire." In addition to his sitar playing, Khan occasionally contributes mellow, buttery vocals that seamlessly blend in with the other instruments.
