CD: Sacred Love: Feel the Journey
Artist: Shambhu
www.ShambhuMusic.com

While there are many musicians in this genre hunched over computers recording in home studios (myself included), there are few who have taken the music making process to the heights that Shambhu has on his “Sacred Love” CD. Sparing no expense to work with some of the top people in the music industry, Shambhu set out from California for the bucolic splendor of Vermont to record at the studio of Windham Hill Records founder and Grammy winner Will Ackerman. To say that the supporting musicians are an all-star cast would be an understatement, and includes bassist Tony Levin, who plays with Peter Gabriel, Eugene Friesen of the Paul Winter Consort on cello, and a host of other top notch musicians who tour with the likes of Santana, Pat Metheny, Ravi Shankar, Yanni, and more.

 

But at the center of this luminous universe is acoustic guitarist and composer Shambhu. In his own words, “My compositions reflect a diversity of musical influences from across the globe, from contemplative to Indian-jazz fusion to contemporary instrumental.”  All radiating a “heartfelt feeling throughout.” This is simply some of the finest music of this type that I have ever heard. And I’m obviously not the only who thinks that, since the album was named “One of the Best of the Year” for contemporary music by Common Ground magazine and has received nominations for Best New Artist, Best Album of the Year, Best World Music CD, and Best Acoustic Instrumental CD. A track from this CD is featured on a recently released compilation entitled The Gathering, produced by Will Ackerman.

 

One of the outstanding features of this project is that it is actually a multi-media experience. Shambhu thoughtfully filmed the entire recording process, and in the beautiful accompanying booklet, entitled “A Guide To The Journey,” as well as on his website are links for the videos on YouTube, which I found absolutely fascinating. “Sacred Love” is a journey well worth taking.

 

 

(While the following story is not necessarily related to this CD, it’s a little anecdote I wanted to share. Many years ago in the mid 1970’s on the east coast, I had the rare opportunity to see Carlos Santana perform an impromptu guitar duet with another musician. It was an amazing experience. When I met Shambhu at my studio in California, about a year ago  I learned, to my surprise and delight, that he was the other guitarist who played with Carlos that day!)

 

 

Carlos Santana and Shambhu:

(To read a review of the latest album by Santana on this site, click here.)