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India Alba

Reels and Ragas

£10 - includes download!

India Alba are a collaboration between two Indian and two Scottish musicians. The combination of their Indian classical and Scottish traditional backgrounds have created a unique and interesting sound.

The end result of this fusion  could be seen as a slightly different tone or improvisation added to Scottish traditional music, or a distinctly Scottish voice being brought to Indian classical music.  Which ever way you see, or hear it, it works and it’s good!

India Alba released their album ‘Reels and Ragas’ on 31st January, 2008.  Have a listen to one of their tracks and enjoy!

1. Hawthornvale
2. Thunderstruck/You're a Kent
3. Night Boat from Oran
4. Donald Willie and His Camel
5. Kafi
6. Dye Water
7. Nitin's Reel
8. Father John MacMillan of Barra/Wee Gordon
 

Check out some video featuring India Alba

Band Website:- www.indiaalba.com

India Alba

The members of India Alba are all established musicians within their own fields who have collaborated with one another on various projects in Scotland and India.

Sharat Srivastava

Sharat is both a Hindustani classical musician and a rock musician.  As one of the leading classical violinists in north India, he has toured in many different parts of the world giving performances of Indian classical music, and also as the leader of the Delhi based fusion group Mrygya. Sharat was taught by his grandfather Joi Srivastava who was one of the top Indian violinists of his day. He is also a visiting professor in the University of Edinburgh and Glasgow, where he teaches Indian Violin.

Nigel Richard

Best known as a bagpipe maker, Nigel also has an excellent reputation as an accompanist on cittern. A founder member of the innovative group "Bag o' Cats", he has been studying Indian music over the last nine years and developing links between Indian and Scottish music.

His musical range is the fruit of many years playing and studying in diverse musical fields which has led to the formation of this innovative band. Not content with the notes usually available, Nigel has invented chromatic Border pipes and a cross between sitar and mandola called a manditar.

Ross Ainslie

Ross hails from Perth and is one of the finest young pipers in Scotland.  A former student of Gordon and Ian Duncan in the Vale of Atholl junior pipe band, Ross has been involved with Ivan Drever's band 'Clueless' before recently playing with Flook!, Dougie Maclean & Salsa Celtica. Ross also featured in the film "Driving Lessons" with the band Salsa Celtica.

Gyan Singh

Gyan is an accomplished Hindustani classical tabla player with years of dedicated training under the tutelage of his gurus, Ustad Faiyaz Khan & Pt. Suresh Talwalkar.  He is Sharat Srivastava's main accompanist both in their fusion group Mrygya, and in their Indian classical music duo. As well as teaching, Gyan is a talented sessions musician.