Guitar

“I broke a string!!” – continuing our September Santoor minutes.

A few more Santoor minutes on this September Saturday!

Alex Skolnick and Max ZT get into a trance during a jam for the development of the tune “Passage to Pranayama,” back in the fall of 2013.

See them and other musicians from the album at Planetary Coalition’s live performance on October 29, 2015, at Dayton University’s ArtsLIVE series: https://www.udayton.edu/artssciences/initiatives/artslive/events/event_3.php

Filmed by Maddy Samaddar — with Max ZT and Alex Skolnick.

Please use this direct link if clicking on the still below does not work: http://on.fb.me/1iFgNFU

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Guitar meets Kora – Planetary Coalition’s Africa-inspired tunes

How did Planetary Coalition’s Africa-inspired tunes come into shape? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the first practice duet of Alex Skolnickand Mali’s famed kora player Yacouba Sissoko, and a background of the man who lent his voice to the tracks “Alla La’ke” and “Back to the Land.”

While the inspiration for “Alla La’ke” came during this afternoon practice session, “Back to the Land” is a melody Alex had composed back in 2012 and wanted to infuse some authentic African instrumental music and voice as well, which Yacouba made possible.

Kora – the 21-string traditional Malinese instrument: Yacouba Sissoko
Guitar: Alex Skolnick

Filmed and edited by Maddy Samaddar

 

“Passage to Pranayama” – practice run with Kiran Ahluwalia & Nitin Mitta

Planetary Coalition wishes a very Happy Birthday to acclaimed Indo-Canadian ghazal/classical vocalist Kiran Ahluwalia.  today! She lent her unique vocals to our track “Passage to Pranayama” along with tabla Maestro Nitin Mitta.

Here’s a look back into the making and evolution of the song Passage to Pranayama with a behind-the-scenes insight into the long process of music making, idea development and tune building.

Video by Maddy Samaddar.

Alex Skolnick & Yihan Chen. A guitar-pipa rehearsal

For ‪#tbt‬ : The first meeting of Alex Skolnick and pipa virtuoso Yihan Chen exactly a year back in July 2014. Instant musical chemistry!

See how they came up with the track “Return of the Yi People” in the album -the first ever guitar-pipa duet and a variation of Wang Huiran’s tune Dance of the Yi People.

Did you know that the Chinese Pipa is an instrument more than 2000 years old?

Guitar: Alex Skolnick

Pipa: Yihan Chen

Filmed/edited by Maddy Samaddar

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