hi there. i need some help from you guys... i'm very interested in classical indian music (sitar, tabla and all that stuff), but the only artist i know is ravi shankar.... is there anybody of you that can suggest me some other sitar players or traditional indian bands? any name will be really appreciated! thanks!
ofcourse their is the great Bela Fleck (bluegrass/jamgrass banjo player) who plays with MANY world famous musicians, from all over the world. He has dozens of albums, and im positive you could find one with him and a sitar player, i just cant tell you exactly which one. Ali Akhbar Khan (sp?) is also pretty good.... and Zakkir Hussein (Mickey Hart's Global Drum Project) plays a mean tablas and other indian instruments....
are you looking for Lucknow school, Carnatic or what? Ravi's daughter Anoushka Shankar will probably bypass her father if she plays as long. Usted Zakir (noted above) has many, many albums with venerated players. really like konnakol style: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPxUomk57r8 Amajd Ali Khan is a sarod player you might like.
have a listen to vishwa mohan bhatt ..his album with ry cooder was how i got introduced to his music. here's a little something from him at the crossroads guitar festival http://youtube.com/watch?v=_0xkpxlZ_Es&feature=related
Some great Indian Classical Musicians: Ustad Ali Akbar Khan - Sarod Hariprasad Chaurasia - Bansuri or Indian Bamboo Flute Jagdeep Singh Bedi - Sitar/Surbahar Bismillah Khan - Shenai L. Subramaniam - Violin There are many more, of course, but these are a good start.