Sarode Mastreo Ali Akbar Passes away

One of the absolute masters. There is no Sarod player that is even close. His duets with Nikhil Banerjee are nothing short of sublime.

I saw him at the Performing Arts Center in El Cajon. I believe that was his 80th birthday. The performance was incredible. A loss to all lovers of music.

Baba, as we who had known him, lovingly and with deep respect, called him, has left this stage called "life"...
His Sarod will be for ever silent...

Yet, his music will live on... the numerous recordings that he has left us, will be played and his legion of students from around the world, will keep tending to their lessons...
The music of Baba will live on and will keep touching lives and transforming those who are touched by it...

Baba, as the word implies, was truly a father to me... he opened the door for me, a young novice, by consenting to record for the yet to be Water Lily Acoustics and thus auspiciously heading my catalog...

A man of great humility, Baba was fair and just and had a fine sense of humor... but most of all, he was a MASTER, a VIRTUOSO, a GENIUS, who gave humanity his service and knowledge with an open heart...

It was an honor, a privilege and a blessing to have known this MASTER...
Kavi Alexander.
Water Lily Acoustics.

A touching commentary from Nayan Ghosh, a tabla and sitar master who lives outside Bombay:

A MIGHTY MOUNTAIN CRUMBLES DOWN - USTAD ALI AKBAR KHANSAHIB'S DEMISE

I can only say that a master of his caliber will not come in the next 500 years. He gave so much to Indian music, revolutionized instrumental music, gave a new sound, a new tone, a new touch, a new feel and the paved the way for generations to make a life and thought-process for themselves musically. The West and the East has saluted this great soul. Indeed his demise is like the Himalayas crumbling down. When he sat with the sarod he was music himself - music personified. His recordings will be the greatest treasure the entire music world will cherish.

He received several prestigious international awards, though most sadly he should have been one of the earliest recipients of the Bharat Ratna, but he was indeed far beyond issues like awards, gharana-rivalries and what not. He played a different music. It came directly from up there. Just his initial strumming of the sarod pierced one's soul, you agree or not. He was like a brother to my late father Padmabhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, the tabla maestro and they performed together for decades. My late uncle the pioneer flautist Pannalal Ghosh was his older gurubhai. I personally feel extremely blessed to have received his affection on many occasions and to have known him so closely, and above all to be inspired with his great art.

He was God's special gift to mankind to spread love and peace through his divine music, leaving all of us today to meet his Creator. God bless his soul and may he rest in His laps in eternal peace .....

Tributes offered at his feet....NAYAN GHOSH.

A great musician has passed, he'll be missed. I saw him in Orlando, Florida several years ago and will always remember that night. Even though he seemed tired and wasn't at his best that evening, it was an honor to be in the audience. He left many great recordings to enjoy.