Chandrika Tandon – Ammu’s Treasures (Soul Chants Music, 2023)
Ammu’s Treasures is a delightful 3-CD boxed set by Chandrika Tandon, an internationally acclaimed business leader, talented artist and a dedicated humanitarian. She is committed to advancing human joy through music and education, actively addressing both emotional and economic welfare.
The crossover world music songs on Ammu’s Treasures are meant as an embrace for the children and adults of our planet through lovely and heartfelt compositions that convey love, illumination, and joy. These charming songs are suitable for individuals of every age group. With this in mind, they are a wonderful recreation of what children’s music should be.
The lovable three-volume set includes 35 songs and 21 chants grounded in traditional folk tunes from various parts of the globe, as well as familiar popular songs and poems. In particular, the songs take the listener to distant areas of the planet, featuring diverse musical genres and languages, with multifaceted arrangements.
These delightful songs are perfect for those serene moments, joyful occasions, and, well, whenever you fancy. Moreover, the collection features ancient Vedic chants set to the beautiful backdrop of Indian scales, crafted to bring comfort and relaxation. And Chandrika leads the way with her extraordinary team of talented musicians, making it all the more special.
Ammu’s Treasures features many music masters from various parts of the globe, representing different musical genres, from Indian and western classical to world music, jazz and beyond. The cast includes Béla Fleck on banjo; Bobby Keyes on guitar; Brian Gill on bass; Brittany Haas on fiddle; Cyro Baptista on percussion; Dave Schroeder on Mongolian horn; Eugene Friesen on cello; FAMES Orchestra; Howard Levy on harmonica; Jamey Haddad on percussion; Keith Underwood on flute; Kenny Werner on piano and strings; Kevin Kliesch on strings; Maeve Gilchrist on harp; Marcus Rojas on tuba; Martin Bejerano on piano; Michael Ward-Bergeman on accordion; Purbayan Chatterjee on sitar; Rakesh Chaurasia on bansuri flute; Romero Lubambo on guitar; the Czech National Symphony Orchestra; and Victor Wooten on bass.
The packaging itself, envisioned by Clive Jacobson, Marc Lumer and Candrika Tandon, is as-cute-as-can-be. In addition to the audio discs, you will find a full color 150-page book with adorable illustrations, photos, an essay by Chandrika Tandon, lyrics and credits.
Tandon’s musical background goes back to her childhood in Chennai, the capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, where she absorbed everything from Indian classical music to jazz, R&B, and the Beatles.
This past summer, Chandrika Tandon joined 35 Ukrainian children for an unforgettable concert at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, presented by the Prague-based children’s organization Kroky Dobra. Together, Tandon and the children’s choir brought music from Ammu’s Treasures to life on stage. She just returned from the World Culture Festival in Washington, D.C. for a trio of performances, including the Blessings Invocation, a medley of “America the Beautiful” and”Vande Mataram,” and select chants from Ammu’s Treasures.
In many areas of India, “Ammu” translates to “happiness,” “sweetness,” and “purity.” Accordingly, Tandon’s grandchildren refer to her as Ammu. She has always serenaded the kids with various songs and chants of significance from her childhood. Ammu’s Treasures originated as a gift from Tandon to her grandchildren.
Chandrika Tandon first made her mark in the world of global finance and management. After earning her MBA in India at age 20, her career took off, and she garnered many exciting opportunities, including working in Beirut with CitiCorp at the height of the country’s civil war in 1975. After relocating to New York, she landed a job at McKinsey & Company, a global management-consulting firm. There she became the first foreign woman hired without an American college degree and, later, one of the earliest women partners in the history of the company. In 1992, she founded the advisory firm that bears her name. Around that time, she also became involved in various humanitarian endeavors at the time, a beloved passion with which she remains extremely involved today.
All proceeds from the record benefit the 501(c)3 Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation, which supports emotional and social well-being.
Buy Ammu’s Treasures.
Author: Sonia Keller
