CD Review – Shanti Orchestra, by Ricky Kej

Composer/keyboardist Ricky Kej orchestrates a true fusion of world music by bringing together the mystical sounds of India with the exotic sounds of other countries from around the world.

The talent on display here is literally on a global scale, with Paul Livingstone of Los Angeles on sitar, Wouter Kellerman of South Africa on flute, Praveen Godkhindi of India on bansuri, and Junior Bay of the Congo and Alexis D'Souza of Qatar on vocals.

Also featured are Charanraj on keyboards, programming, and vocals, Dominic D'Cruz on guitar, Manoj George on violin, Karthik K. on ethnic percussion, Gopu Krishnan, Job Kurien, and Jyoti V. on vocals, Keerthy Narayan on keyboards, programming, string arrangements, and vocals, Prakash Sontakke on slide guitar, and Vanil Veigas on ethnic percussion, keyboards, programming, and santoor.

The result is lush, rich, atmospheric music that is enlightening and refreshing.

--Raj Manoharan