Multi-instrumentalist and composer Prem Joshua is considered a pioneer in the field of World Music. I’ve been reviewing Joshua’s groundbreaking synthesis of East and West since the mid-’90s, with Tales of a Dancing River, Hamsafar and desert visions It’s still among my favourites. I am delighted to be able to tell you taranga, Joshua’s latest CD.
taranga, which means “colorful waves of joy and enthusiasm” in Sanskrit, features captivating melodies on the sitar, bamboo flute, and soprano sax. Joshua’s compositions soar above the rhythms of the tabla as ancient Sanskrit and Sufi poems reawaken in the 21st century. And while Joshua draws from the deep wells of Eastern musical traditions, he has never lost touch with contemporary Western music. Over the years, he has continued to distill his incredible talent for fusion, blending meditative classic Indian ragas with highly heady rhythms, creating music that seems at home anywhere in the world.
These are just a few of Joshua’s many accolades – he is now the number one selling World Music artist in India. The newspaper “The Times of India” has anointed him as the new “Guru of Fusion”. In 2003, the BBC nominated him for their prestigious “World Music Listeners Award”, and in 2007 Joshua received the award for “Best Film Music on Indian Television” at the Indian TV Awards in Mumbai.
Joshua plays sitar, flute, percussion, drums, bass, soprano sax, and handles some vocals. A lot of excellent musicians add tabla, dholak (Indian hand drum), kanjeera (a small round drum covered with goatskin and surrounded by bells on its wooden body), cello, violin, keyboards, and much more. exquisitely produced, taranga It’s happy feet music for all ages, perfect for active meditation and movement, or just getting lost in the joy of the moment. I urge you to get acquainted with Joshua’s delicious mix of East meets West, you might even want to collect more of his titles.