Indian Mandolin Master U. Shrinivas has died

[CWRoyds]

Indian Mandolin Master U. Shrinivas has died.
He was 47.

I know this forum is mostly for Bluegrass, but it is right to honor master mandolinists from any genre. U. Shrinivas was a master of indian Carnatic music played on the Mandolin, but also became known to the world through playing with Guitarist John Mclaughlin in the band Shakti. His playing style derived from the Indian Saraswati Veena, which used intricate sliding techniques known as Gamaka. He played a modified electric mandolin, usually with 5 single course strings and a radius fretboard. He was a very respected musician in Indian Classical music.

Here is a video of him playing as a young boy. Even then he was awesome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H07Yqe5-daU

Here is an example of his Indian Classical music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnaXpZ5SnW4

Playing with John Mclaughlin and Shakti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA7Mzo73cd4

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/i...w/42877658.cms

[mrmando]

Utterly devastating news. First Nash the Slash and now Srinivas. Tremendously sad.

[Beanzy]

A great talent who bridged many boundaries. A shame to see he's gone so young.

[Larry S Sherman]

Terrible news. We were the same age (45).

He was an inspiration to so many Carnatic players, and one of my favorite musicians of any genre.

Larry

[Avi Ziv]

Very sorry to hear that! He was and will remain an inspiration

R.I.P

[JeffD]

Oh my. Complications after a transplant. This is tragic.

[Bob Clark]

This is a great loss. There have been other postings about him in the past and I have really enjoyed his music. I had a friend who heard him play in India and spoke very highly of the experience. We are very fortunate in this era to have his recorded performances.

[JeffD]

I know this forum is mostly for Bluegrass, but it is right to honor master mandolinists from any genre.

Absolutely.

While the site content is perhaps bluegrass heavy, I don't think the site is "mostly for" bluegrass. Or "mostly for" any genre. As you say, it honors master mandolinners and mandolinning from any genre of music.

[JeffD]

When I first heard the music of U. Shrinivas, (through a discussion on this site) I was bowled over and surprised. I just discovered here today that he brought the mandolin to the music, i.e. it was not traditional before him. This is even more exciting.

Special musical people, those who leave the world forever different.

[Larry S Sherman]

I was excited for his new project "Bombay Makossa" when I heard about it in early September.



Now I guess it will be our last musical memory of this great talent.

Larry

[JEStanek]

This is a very big loss to the music world.

Jamie

[Glassweb]

tough news... i've listened to him since he was a youngster and was lucky enough to see him once in Kirkland, WA a number of years ago. what a unique and masterful talent! call his instrument what you will, but he was an exceptionally expressive player that inspired many, many musicians to take up the electric mandolin and explore Indian music. i will miss him dearly...

[mrmando]

I was excited for his new project "Bombay Makossa" when I heard about it in early September.

It sounds fantastic. Even in the interview clips in this promo video, he appears to be in considerable pain. It's a marked difference from when I met him.

[Grommet]

Namaste.

Scott

[delsbrother]

I have one of his CDs in my car right now, get home and open the Cafe to read this! Terribly sad news.

[Mike Marshall]

Shrinivas was a marvel of nature. Able to play freely with a brilliant mind, superb creativity and an incomparable technique. He was a tremendous human being. One of the most humble I have ever met. He and I talked many times about doing a project together.
It's a sad sad day for mandolinists the world over. Rest in Peace mandolin brother.
Mike Marshall

[clem]

A brilliant talent, maker of exquisite music and inspiration for the many things a mandolin can do. I listened to his music for 6+ hours yesterday at work...So much beauty...

[CWRoyds]

Mike,
I am so sorry that you have lost your friend. The world has lost a great master, but the loss of a personal friend is devastating. I am sorry for your loss. I would have loved to have heard a Marshall/Shrinivas Jugalbandi. THAT would have been something.

Carleton

[domradave]

I invited Shrinivas to perform for the Long Island Mandolin and Guitar Orchestra many years ago. It was nothing like I expected.
We didn't pay him anything and he still played. It was about the same time we had John Monteleone speak about how he builds mandolins. It was also about the same time that some of us visited the old D'Addario factory. Andy De Meo was our conductor, and the president of the Fretted Instrument Guild of America so this goes back at least 25 years. The mandolin is played everywhere!