In the music world, Grammy nomination is one of the highest achievement which is valued and celebrated very highly. For Ganesh Rajagopalan, a violinist from Bellevue and a genius, this was but an act of destiny. His band. Shakti, had rested for more than four decades, nevertheless, in 2019 Zakir Hussain, the tabla player, invited Ganesh to join the union. What they knew not was that their kind of reunion would end up getting them nominated for Best Global Music Album at the 2024 Grammys. As a start, we meet Ganesh Rajagopalan and Shakti, a band that brought fusion to the stage in the world.
Ganesh Rajagopalan lived through his infancy, childhood, and adolescence in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in Northern India. When he was just an adolescent, he demonstrated enormous talent as a violinist, accompanied by his younger brother, Kumaresh. Their first guide was their father Sri T.S. Rajagopalan a very well known musician. With him as their tutor, Ganesh and Kumaresh started their musical education in their infancy – 3 years and 2 years, respectively. Their home was a center of music as their father gave lessons not only to their children but also nurtured other young potential players in the vicinity.
Initially created in 1973 project of guitar virtuoso John McLaughlin and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain ‘Shakti’- power from the Sanskrit language. This is a unique amalgamation of Indian classical music, jazz, and rock which had the whole world raving about them. The original members of the band consisted of violinist L. Shankar and ghatamplayer T.H. Vinayakram, besides others. Shakti disbanded in 1977 following the release of a number of critically acclaimed albums that they had released over a period of time.
In 2019 Zakir Hussain contacted Ganesh Rajagopalan, inviting him to among the revived Shakti. The band was coming to gether again, after forty plus years, for two performances in early 2020. Ganesh excited about the prospect welcomed the invitation with open arms. Ganesh got a full-circle when he came across Shakti and he knew about her since his childhood through interaction with ghatam player Vikku Vinayakram who was a former member of the band.
The comeback of Shakti was a watershed episode in the lives of both the band and their followers. First series of the shows in Kolkata, India, and Singapore represented the musical chemistry and talent that had defined Shakti as legendary. Audiences were hooked when the band integrated eastern and Western traditions, combining Indian classical ragas with jazz and rock improvisation, which was done in a seamless manner. It was evident that Shakti still had a lot to convey musically.
The rave reviews of their reunion tours encouraged the musicians in Shakti to keep making music. Nevertheless, while the worldwide pandemic imposed mobility restrictions, the band was forced to create a different form of cooperation. They went on to the internet so as use technology to fill in the void of their physical separation. At the same venues, the collective of John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, V. Selvaganesh, and Ganesh Rajagopalan started producing their first studio album in more than four decades – ‘This Moment.’
The making of the “This Moment” was unlike other band members had gone through. All musicians input their individual contributions remotely with their recoded send to be used for the final compositions. Regardless of the body separation, the music merged perfectly, and airport free band provides an ample highlight of each performer’s great talent and creative mind. In the album were eight new compositions wherein virtuosity of John McLaughlin on guitar, Zakir Hussain on tabla, Shankar Mahadevan on vocals, V. Selvaganesh on percussion, and Ganesh Rajagopalan on violin were noted.
This Moment was released in June 2023 and got wide positive reviews. The album was applauded by music and art critics as well as fans who believed in its ground breaking fusion of musical genres as well as the obvious brilliance of the musicians. The album’s popularity was cemented further when the group, Shakti was nominated for the Best Global Music Album Awards at the 2024 Grammy Awards. This support resulted in the band’s nomination which was like a declaration of the lasting impact and worldwide fame of the band. Having fused the traditional Indian classical music with the Western genres, there was undoubtedly a global response to Shakti’s music.
Shakti must rightly be treated as a contributor to the world of music. The unique blend of Indian classical music with jazz and rock became a milestone in the lifeline of countless musicians who found opportunities to unleash their creativity. Their music was culturally inclusive, and it transcended boundaries creating a sort of a global language that connected with everyone, from every corner of the world. Shakti’s vestiges are apparent in music of many contemporary musicians who still experiment with the nature of fusion music.
Congrats Best Global Music Album winner - 'This Moment' Shakti. #GRAMMYs 🎶
— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) February 4, 2024
WATCH NOW https://t.co/OuKk34kvdu pic.twitter.com/N7vXftfaDy
After Shakti’s eager wait for the Grammys ceremony, Ganesh Rajagopalan remains a humble man grateful for the recognition they have received. He does not limit himself to one kind of musical partnership or projects as he constantly branches out looking to expand his artistic frontiers. Regardless of whether Shakti gets to win the Grammy or not, their nomination for the award is all the proof that they have remained to be relevant to the music world.
From Ganesh’s perspective, his quest with Shakti reflects a mix of passion, talent, and the power that is musical collaboration. Right from his initial days in Kanpur to the worldwide platform of the Grammy Awards, Ganesh has captivated his followers in his violin brilliance. The comeback and Grammy nomination of Shakti reaffirm what the band is all about – timeless quality music that defies all borders. With everyone waiting on the edge of their seats to find out which entertainer sweeps the Grammys this year, one thing is for sure Ganesh Rajagopalan and Shakti’s mark on music will be forever.
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