V. Selvaganesh

Kanjeera Master

V. Selvaganesh is an Indian percussionist working in the Carnatic tradition and one of the leading kanjira (south Indian frame drum) players of his generation. He is a part of the band Shakti that won the 2024 Grammy Award for the Best Global Music Album.

L. Shankar
New Release

Over the stars

With

Vikku Vinayakram
V. Selvaganesh
S. Swaminathan

"All three (Shakti initial albums) are masterpieces, of which the deeply moving and technically astonishing Handful of Beauty will stand tall in recorded history for decades to come.” - Lee Underwood, Downbeat Music Magazine

“Shankar is ranked as one of the top famous male violinists.” - Ranker

“One amongst the greatest violinists of popular music.” - Digital Dream Door

L. Shankar (aka Shenkar) is widely considered a living legend, a pioneer and a musical genius by his peers who hold him in the highest esteem. Shankar has enthralled audiences and critics alike all over the world. A child prodigy who is a virtuoso vocalist, violinist, composer and record producer who has sold over 100 million albums through his solo projects and collaborations with other superstar musicians throughout the world.

In 1973, John Mclaughlin and Shankar formed the band Turiyananda Sangeet and they co-wrote all the music for it. The band also included Ramnad Raghavan on the mridangam. Zakir Hussain was later added on tabla and the band name was changed to Shakti. Raghavan didn't stay with the project and T.H. Vikku Vinayakaram was added on ghatam for the remainder of those original Shakti days. The band toured extensively around the world. Shankar co-wrote all of the group's material with John McLaughlin, resulting in the release of three world music albums. According to Downbeat music magazine critic Lee Underwood, "All three are masterpieces, of which the deeply moving and technically astonishing Handful of Beauty will stand tall in recorded history for decades to come.”

Album Details:

Over the stars

‘Over The Stars’ features two original members of the pioneering world music band Shakti: L. Shankar and Vikku Vinayakram, along with V. Selvaganesh (current member of Shakti) and his son S. Swaminathan.

The combination of Shankar and Vikku brings back the unmistakable original sound of Shakti with Shankar’s legendary, mesmerizing vocals and violin melodies dominating the auditory experience, while Vikku Vinayakram’s incredible command over the ghatam shines through the whole album. The album also highlights the explosive and pulsating percussion solos of Vikku Vinayakram, V. Selvaganesh and S. Swaminathan, showcasing their virtuosity.

It features the mega-hit song ‘Joy’ from Shakti’s debut album, as well as Shankar's innovative and complex pallavis, which he has popularized over decades through his critically acclaimed solo albums. His pallavis, which are classic innovations of his unique rhythmic cycles, have now been adopted by others.

This album promises a musical odyssey, showcasing the rich heritage of Indian music with a global touch. The performances bear testament to the sublime craftsmanship of these musical stalwarts, making it an incredible venture that elevates the listener to new heights - something not to be missed.

L. SHANKAR - Vocals, Double Violin, Keyboards
VIKKU VINAYAKRAM - Ghatam (Wiki) (T. H. Vinayakram)
V. SELVAGANESH - Kanjeera (Wiki) (Selvaganesh Vinayakram)
S. SWAMINATHAN - Kanjeera (Swaminathan Selvaganesh)

1. JOY (L. Shankar / John McLaughlin) 1:57
2. Kambodi Fantasy, Pt. I (L. Shankar) 15:22
3. Kambodi Fantasy, Pt. II (L. Shankar) 11:07
4. Light Through Darkness, Pt. I (L. Shankar) 14:54
5. Light Through Darkness, Pt. II (L. Shankar) 09:49

L. SHANKAR VOCALS, DOUBLE VIOLIN, KEYS RECORDED AT SRI MUSIC STUDIO, LOS ANGELES & INDIA
VIKKU VINAYAKRAM, V. SELVAGANESH, S. SWAMINATHAN RECORDED IN CHENNAI

ALL SONGS WRITTEN, ARRANGED, PERFORMED AND PRODUCED BY L. SHANKAR
ALL SONGS MIXED & MASTERED BY JEFF GROSS @ STUDIO 144, LOS ANGELES

ALBUM CO-PRODUCED BY V. SELVAGANESH
ALBUM COVER DESIGN BY SPHICO

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
X DOT 25 MUSIC, MAX AHMADI, FRANK ZAPPA, THE ORCHARD, SRI MUSIC, INC, BMI, V. LAKSHMINARAYANA, L. SEETHALAKSHMI, JEFF GROSS, 144 STUDIO, SRI MUSIC STUDIO LA - INDIA, SPHICO, GEOFFREY GALLEGOS, JOHN JORDAN, JORDAN ELECTRIC VIOLINS, IRA GAGON, PIRASTRO. MARY AKHLAGHPOUR (MBA TAX), ANGEL, BRIAN LUCEY, JULIETT ROSE, STEPHEN DAY. ALL MY FANS WHO HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF MY WORK NO MATTER WHAT I DO. YOU ROCK - I LOVE U.

L. SHANKAR MANAGEMENT
E - MAIL: theshenkar.management@gmail.com
PHONE: 1 818 415 0443

SRI MUSIC, INC., P.O.BOX 26384, LOS ANGELES CA 90026
E - MAIL:  the.shenkar@gmail.com   PHONE: 1 818 415 0443

OFFICIAL WEBSITE:   lshankar.com
OFFICIAL INSTAGRAM: theshenkar
OFFICIAL FACEBOOK: Shenkar

L. SHANKAR
JOY: Seethalakshmi Music Inc. (BMI)
KAMBODI FANTASY: SRI Music, Inc. (BMI)
LIGHT THROUGH DARKNESS: SRI Music, Inc. (BMI)

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN
JOY: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. and Chinmoy Music, Inc. (BMI)