A Sivamani

Very often, solo albums by virtuoso musicians tend to be less good music designed to please listeners and more self-indulgent technical wankery aimed to massage the musician’s own ego. Which is why this album comes across as quite a revelation.

Subtitled “My Journey Through Life,” Mahaleela is Sivamani’s take on the people and places and events that have influenced him in the 35 odd years that he has spent making music. Take for instance ”˜Abbaji,’ the drummer’s tribute to the late Ustad Alla Rakha, guru to many percussionists and father to Ustad Zakir Hussain (who, incidentally, also plays on this album). A frenetic jam of bols, tablas, bass guitar and assorted percussion, this track will have you tapping out rhythms on the nearest surface. Other biggies like sitarist Neeladri Kumar, vocalists Hariharan and Shankar Mahadevan, jazz keyboardist Louiz Banks have also contributed to Mahaleela, Sivamani’s first solo album. Listen out for ”˜Kriya,’ a slow meditative piece and ”˜Dancing on the Moon,’ an electro-dance-percussive thumper.

And that remains the best part of Mahaleela: None of the 12 tracks on this album are meant to be a shameless showcase of Sivamani’s talents. Instead, they are all well-written world-music pieces that feature performances by the best names currently working in that space. It being Sivamani’s album is almost incidental. Mahaleela is a must-buy for world-music/fusion fans.