Classical
Music Sentinel
"The musicianship on this recording is quite remarkable. Guitarist
Simon Thacker
transcends the instrument and persuades it to produce music
loaded with subtle nuances and character... A veritable
melting pot of styles and influences that have truly merged
into one."
"Shirish
Korde’s Nada-Ananda concerto allows classical guitarist
Simon Thacker ...to show just how invigorating music can be
when it draws its sensibilities from a host of styles,
releasing it from the inhibitions of genre pigeon-holing."
"I was deeply impressed by
this disc – not just by the undeniably high standard of
musicianship throughout, but also by the fascinating,
accessible and interesting compositions, which demonstrate
that successful collaboration between Eastern and Western
music is, indeed, possible."
"What
particularly impresses is the sheer cohesion of the playing,
with Thacker proving an acutely stylish and sensitive
fulcrum for an often mesmerising melding of old and new,
Indian and Western."
"The third movement, in
particular, is an exuberant virtuoso display of rhythmic
complexity. Nada Ananda means joy of sound, an idea Korde captured in
his music."
"Here's an
east-west inversion: gentle spirituality from Nigel
Osborne's work for 'guitar concertante'; and jazz with real
swing in Shirish Korde's concerto, where the virtuosity of
Thacker is matched by sizzling sounds from Jyotsna
Srikanth's Indian violin and Sarvar Sabri's tabla playing".
27/08/2011 issue
Hi-arts.co.uk
"The extraordinary range of
cultural influences, musical forms and emotional states in
the selected works were beautifully fluid and seamlessly
communicated by Thacker and his fellow musicians."
"An ambitious project
which has proven very successful because of the musicianship
and devotion of Simon Thacker....Just looking at all these
musicians on stage with their instruments one experienced a
heightened sense of anticipation, which was fulfilled
in performance."
The Scotsman (CD review)
"Take one eclectically minded classical guitarist from
East Lothian, grant him charge of an ensemble comprising two
Indian virtuosi on violin and tabla drums, one of Scotland's
leading string quartets, a Scottish-based Brazilian jazz
bassist and a cross-genre percussionist and... the result is
music of sinuous beauty."
"Trying to describe this album is difficult; simply
calling it east meets west is not only an understatement but
doesn’t do it justice! Sanskrit for the Joy is Sound,
Nada-Ananda is an eclectic collection of diverse worlds
and cultures cross fertilised in an elegant helix of
sounds."
"Guitarist Simon Thacker is an uncompromising musical explorer, and for this
Inner Octaves programme, presented by ECAT, he blended Asian and Western musical
styles to great effect..."
"The Birth of
Naciketa for guitar Concertante...spotlighted
not just Simon Thacker but most of the other players as well
in an astonishing variety of combinations."
"Shirish Korde's...compositional
approach to combining Western and Indian music was
completely distinct to that of Nigel Osborne, which was a
fascinating part of listening to these works. Korde's piece
also built to an exciting climax.
Simon Thacker is to be congratulated for undertaking such an adventurous
programme."
Full review in Feb 2010 issue
Glasgow Herald
"Taking
its cue from guitarist John McLaughlin’s Indian adventures,
this meaty offering [Shirish Korde’s Nada Ananda] called for
much string bending from Thacker, featured marvellous
interaction between Thacker and Srikanth and culminated in
the kind of strikingly intricate, powerful unison playing
from all involved that made McLaughlin’s group Shakti such a
thrill."
Musical Pointers
"This is
captivating and highly recommended to our readers.
Simon Thacker is a fine guitarist who has been devoting
himself to exploring meetings of Indian and Western cultures
with an outstanding intercultural ensemble."
Inside World
Music
"Simon Thacker, is a stunning, Scottish performer of
Western, European, and South Asian musical styles.....The
mix of classical and Indian music is brilliant, moving, and
creative."
