INDIAN WORLD Fusion review page : Stephan Mikes

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Stephan Mikés : East meets South (my copy : cdr) (US,2003)***

This is a live recording featuring Stephan Mikés on sitar, Dana Keller on dobro and Robert Thomas, Jr. (Weather Report) on percussion, with Stephan Alvin on tamboura.

This release is much closer to Indian Classical music, than the two other works from Stephan I reviewed before (on next page), with great spherical improvisations on the dobro (resonator guitar) close to the Indian classical music tunings in communication with the sitar. Here Stephan shows his dedication to Indian classical music from his teaching, under the leadership of Roop Verma, a primary student of Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan.

Audio : "Raga Blue","Moonlight Waves","Invocation", "Interlude", "George Khamaj (a tribute to George Harrison)", "Tears in the Rain","Appalachian Groove", "Anand Supreme".

Info on this release : http://cdbaby.com/cd/eastmeetssouth

Dobro guitar image here

More on the Dobro guitar : http://www.gibson.com/products/oai/dobro/

Homepage : http://stephanmikes.com/

PrivateStephan Mikés : The Good, the bad and the Karmic -sitar world fusion- (US,1995)*°

“Sitar World Fusion” does not really describe the genre of the music of this CD but surely indicates the interest of Stephan Mikés in using some variety of World and other rhythms. Here we hear a still young Stephan Mikés, and his approach to these rhythms. Here it is much more light weight and leans towards the mainstream, at times even slightly New Age and with a tendency towards transparent compositions and light arrangements. The first two tracks ("Medium Rara" and "In The Shadow of Everything") for me show the best combinations because the Caribbean and other rhythms are done very colourfully and combine well with the sitar play. “Shiva's Bolero” with keyboard melody and rhythm with Middle Eastern touches has in its light mode something joyful. This light feeling in “Andean Dub” is there as well, and they become in a very easy way enjoyable.

Audio : "Medium Rara", "In The Shadow of Everything","Zamzara","Akashavani",

"The Good, the bad and the Karmic", "Shiva's Bolero", "Andean Dub", "Soft Heart"

Info : http://stephanmikes.com & http://www.indiespace.com/stephanmikes/

Info on release : http://cdbaby.com/cd/i57_11083

PrivateStephan Mikés : Secret Songs of the Sitar Player (US,2002)*°°

This release has a much more steady and strong dubrock band sound to the music, with some good guitar, slide guitar effects, and very pleasant rhythms, (bass and drums). It is very consistent in how it is performed, and it is well produced for its purposes of smooth-rhythmic music with sitar and band enjoyment. Makes a perfect listen, but it is very light weight.

Audio : "Afterlife Blues", "New Morning", "Deja Vu", "Dancing in my dreams", "Separation Blues", "Together Again", "Dreaming of You"

Info : http://stephanmikes.com

Review : http://www.mwe3.com/archive/april2003instro.htm