As I’m sure you know, today is 12/12/12. This means that 11/11/11 – or Nigel Tufnel day – was exactly one year, one month, and one day ago. Nigel Tufnel, of course, was the legendary (?) guitarist for Spinal Tap who cherished his special Marshall amp, which the band could always count on when it needed that extra push, over the cliff. But even Nigel didn’t dare dream about taking it up to 12.
No music I have ever listened to have I found so utterly compelling as that of the recently deceased master sitar player, Ravi Shankar. Part of the reason for this, I think, is how the chastening of the emotions underlying the music makes the expression of them profound. Then, too, every note played seems essential. There is nothing showy or self-indulgent in it. Yet while the emotions are chastened. they are not eliminated, so there is no aridity nor mere asbtractness. His music is proof…
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