Calin Costian, Dallas, Texas
"I've known Shankar Ramani for a number of years and it is a privilege that I can call myself his friend. His music and talent never cease to amaze me. His music simply radiates spirituality, as I found it spontaneously puts me in a meditative state, where thoughts cease and I feel only uplifting peace and joy. I am sure that his own practice of meditation, coupled with his incredible talent and total devotion to his craft, make his music so special and unique.
I remember sitting in the audience one summer evening during a musical program held in Cabella Ligure, Italy, where top talent musicians from around the world had gathered to enthrall us with their performances, one better than the other, spanning a staggering number of instruments and musical styles. It was however when Shankar took the microphone that I felt that he lifted us all to heaven. It is hard to describe the joy I felt listening to his South Indian style music, sung with such emotion as well as aesthetic and technical perfection. At the end of the performance I asked the president of a noted music academy from India, a hugely accomplished and well-known musician himself, what he thought of Shankar's music. He replied with only two words: "world class".
We were also very fortunate to have Shankar come and perform at a major function of our non-profit organization that we had in the Dallas/Fort-Worth metroplex - the grand opening of our new Sahaja Meditation center, attended by the local mayor pro tem. It was Shankar's desire to come, he and his wife flew in from the East Coast at their own expense, we had the pleasure to host them in our home, and he performed pro bono at the new center this amazing solo concert that left us all speechless. Shankar is a true artist who is never interested in money but only in the furtherance and perfection of his art, for the enjoyment of his audiences, with a rare humility and complete dedication to his music.
In closing I would say that I love Shankar's music so much that there is one song of his that I have been listening to every single day for years now, as I have it programmed into my wake-up alarm. There is no better way to start my day!"
I remember sitting in the audience one summer evening during a musical program held in Cabella Ligure, Italy, where top talent musicians from around the world had gathered to enthrall us with their performances, one better than the other, spanning a staggering number of instruments and musical styles. It was however when Shankar took the microphone that I felt that he lifted us all to heaven. It is hard to describe the joy I felt listening to his South Indian style music, sung with such emotion as well as aesthetic and technical perfection. At the end of the performance I asked the president of a noted music academy from India, a hugely accomplished and well-known musician himself, what he thought of Shankar's music. He replied with only two words: "world class".
We were also very fortunate to have Shankar come and perform at a major function of our non-profit organization that we had in the Dallas/Fort-Worth metroplex - the grand opening of our new Sahaja Meditation center, attended by the local mayor pro tem. It was Shankar's desire to come, he and his wife flew in from the East Coast at their own expense, we had the pleasure to host them in our home, and he performed pro bono at the new center this amazing solo concert that left us all speechless. Shankar is a true artist who is never interested in money but only in the furtherance and perfection of his art, for the enjoyment of his audiences, with a rare humility and complete dedication to his music.
In closing I would say that I love Shankar's music so much that there is one song of his that I have been listening to every single day for years now, as I have it programmed into my wake-up alarm. There is no better way to start my day!"
Alan Wherry, New York
" Music that touches the spirit has always been an integral part of my life, irrespective of the tradition from whence it came. The first time I heard Shankar Ramani sing, I realized I was listening to a voice that is uniquely special. I observe that many others share this view, for example, at a twelve week course in Sahaja Meditation held in a health food store in the Bronx, Shankar Ramani came with a small group of musicians to play pro bono and the audience later said that the deepest experience they had in the twelve weeks was in listening to the singer's voice.
As a saxophonist in my 20s and a guitarist now, I see the ability of music to transform the individual and nowhere is this more profoundly seen than in the voice of Shankar Ramani. "
As a saxophonist in my 20s and a guitarist now, I see the ability of music to transform the individual and nowhere is this more profoundly seen than in the voice of Shankar Ramani. "
Ann Thorpe Capozzoli, New York
" I remember when I first heard his voice. He was singing with a group of five or six other musicians seated behind me to my left. One voice, exquisitely clear and pure, led the others like a beacon on a moonless night. I had to turn to look for the source of that ethereal sound. I saw a young man with raven black hair, his eyes closed, a look of beatitude on his face. I later learned his name - Shankar Ramani.
Since then I’ve had the pleasure and good fortune to hear Shankar sing on a number of occasions. Each time the beauty of his voice and his soulful renderings of devotional songs has led me to a state of inner lightness, mental silence, deep meditation. Thank you, Shankar. "
Since then I’ve had the pleasure and good fortune to hear Shankar sing on a number of occasions. Each time the beauty of his voice and his soulful renderings of devotional songs has led me to a state of inner lightness, mental silence, deep meditation. Thank you, Shankar. "