Order the physical CD directly from the artist with immediate digital download of the full album included! "East Facing" has original graphic design and photography by Ganesh Ramachandran and liner notes inside about the music. You will receive a package with a friendly note directly from Prasant Radhakrishnan and the good feeling knowing that your are supporting music directly.
A purchase of the physical CD also includes immediate download of 9 track album in your choice of 320k mp3, FLAC, or just about any other format you could possibly desire.
In the Western world, the term "East Facing" may conjure up a sympathy towards or inspiration from the Far East, in many cases, India. In India, the term is often associated with the direction of a house in relation to Vaasthu Shastra (the ancient Indian version of Feng-Shui).
However, in India as well as in other nations, the direction East also refers to the auspicious direction of the rising sun, signifying new beginnings. It is a tradition that the student must face East when bowing to receive the guru's blessings with the intention of growing and moving forward. Carnatic saxophonist Prasant Radhakrishnan's 3rd album derives its title, "East Facing," from this meaning.
Accompanied by established veterans B.U. Ganeshprasad (violin), P. Satishkumar (mridungam), V. Suresh (ghatam) and B. Rajashekar (morsing), Radhakrishnan continues to hone his distinct style of bringing Carnatic music to the saxophone by emphasizing the vocal quality of the instrument while still bringing out the saxophone's unique strengths.
East Facing is Radhakrishnan's most powerful, yet direct and balanced record to date. He presents a weighty, classic composition often reserved for vocalists in Kshinamai (raga Mukhari, tracks 4 and 5), while also composing a brisk pallavi in the unconventional Misrachapu thalam (7 beat cycle, track 8). Among the six contrasting compositions on the disc, there is no repetition of raga (melody), tala (rhythmic cycle) or composer.
credits
released June 1, 2007
Prasant Radhakrishnan: Saxophone
B.U. Ganeshprasad: Violin
Patri Satishkumar: Mridangam
V. Suresh: Ghatam
Bangalore B. Rajashekar: Morsing