Avra Banerjee – Manoyatri – The Mind Voyager (Muzik House Productions, 2023)
Manoyatri is a collection of four unique compositions created by Composed by Avra Banerjee, a virtuoso sarod player. Furthermore, each composition is marked by a rich and intricate musical texture that superbly exemplifies the captivating genre of world fusion music. Firmly rooted in Indian Classical Music, this exquisite music gracefully branches out into a myriad of diverse genres. In addition to this, the compositions themselves are inherently syncopated. They are driven by unconventional and intricately woven rhythmic time cycles, ranging from the mesmerizing 9, 11, 13, and 15-beat cycles to the more conventional 4/4 and 6/4 time signatures.
Moving on to the overarching theme of this album, it is undeniably spiritual in nature. This theme guides the listener on a profound and contemplative journey through different experiences. These experiences touch upon the realms of wisdom, timelessness, serenity, self-realization, love, connections, and synchronicity. Ultimately, they establish a profound sense of ultimate peace and euphoria.
Furthermore, this remarkable world music project serves as a platform for 22 exceptionally talented artists. These musicians come from diverse geographical backgrounds, including India, the USA, and Australia. Together, they create a harmonious and transcendent musical experience that rises above borders and cultures.
Music Design, Composition & Concept – Avra Banerjee
Lyricist – Bhaswar Dasgupta.
Participating Artists: Swapan Chaudhuri, Taufiq Qureshi, George Brooks, Subhen Chatterjee, Purbayan Chatterjee, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Suchismita Das, Mainak Bumpy Chowdhury, Murad Ali Khan, Ambi Subramanyam, Ojhas Adhiya, Rhythm Shaw, Praashekh Borkar, Gayatri Asokan, Sambit Chatterjee, Tamal Kanti Halder, Raghab Chatterjee, Himadri S Das, Bachospati Chakraborty, and Sivakumar Balakrishnan.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.