A Meeting by the River

The album truly encompasses the spirit of the confluence, of different worlds, different music, different thoughts, united in harmony, in the cool shade of the banks of the ganges.

Vishwa Mohan Bhatt is as effortlessly beautiful as ever. The flowing quality of his music, with delightful legatos splashes as his solos meet the solid boulders and branches of Ry Cooder's slide guitar. If anything I feel Ry Cooder was too quiet on this album, though, the blues/jazz influence was underplayed a little.

The title piece is one of my favourites, though Isa Lie is equally wonderful.

Magical music from another place and time.

"Isa Lei" is my favourite piece on this cd. It is a FIJIAN farewell song, not Hawaiian like most people tend to think. Being a Fijian myself, I couldn't help but cry when I first heard Ry Cooder and Bhatt's rendition.

Ry Cooder has made a lot of music that's nice to listen to as 'background music.' All of his film soundtracks are enjoyable, but they never strike one beyond that.

In Meeting by the River, Cooder and Bhatt create music that is at once unique and interesting. Bhatt, as always, is outstanding on his own mohan vina, and Cooder gives one of his best performances.

Interestingly, this CD was recorded in one take, in an LA church with outstanding acoustics. This is an impromptu session, but the musical ideas seem very refined.

One of my all-time favorites, and a must-have for any Cooder fan.