Heritage India (Kala Utsav Concerts, Vol. 4)

Among European instruments, the mandolin is not the most obvious fit for use in Indian classical music: it has a very short neck and extremely limited sustain. But the young virtuoso U. Srinivas was drawn to its sound, and made some adaptations: instead of stringing it in the typical way with eight strings in four courses, he equipped his mandolin with five single strings, and added an electric pickup to increase its sustain. Playing through an amplifier with subtle added effects (notably reverb), he created a new and unique sound in Carnatic music. This live album, recorded with a warm and intimate acoustic, finds him working in jugalbandi format with a violinist, and their sound is magnificent. U. Srinivas was consistently one of the most exciting musicians working in the Carnatic tradition, and this is a fine example of his artistry.