|
***Ben Kunin patiently mentors students of sarod and Hindustani music theory 20 miles north of San Francisco in San Rafael, at the school founded by one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century, sarodist Ali Akbar Khan. In addition to being a master student of Hindustani music theory and sarod-playing, Kunin is also an incredible classical guitarist who can stand the hairs on your arms and neck on end and slip time out of its more linear patterns. With an acoustic nylon-stringed guitar, he can blow you away with some of the most inspired guitar-playing since John Fahey, Terry Riley or the Sun City Girls. Anyone who has felt the joy in the playing of Fahey, Robbie Basho or other noted folkische fingerpickers will need to rush to their CD player and pop this jewel in. The nine tracks on Acoustic Adventures beautifully demonstrate the disciplines one learns in both Indian and Western classical theory, while also displaying the transcendant freedom that all great musicians channel in their own unique ways. The music is closest to the Takoma-era players, but with its own special approach to the "great tradition." Ben Kunin's debut CD is simply a beautiful collection of classical-folk guitar sure to please anyone who will listen. |
