{ "ok" : true, "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor", "description" : "Music without preservatives", "location" : "MD, USA", "bio" : "Magnatune recording and performing artist, former Visiting Artist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, rostered artist for the Kennedy Center, and panel member for the development of the ethno-musicology program at Peabody Conservatory, sitar and surbahar virtuoso Jay Kishor brings to the art of the electric guitar an intense discipline in world music culminating from an intensive fifteen year period of study in India in the traditional \"master-disciple\" training from a number of renowned masters (Nabaganashyam Singh, John Bell, Dr. Allyn Miner, Manju Mehta, Brij Bhushan Kabra, Dr. Rajbhan Singh, Rooshikumar Pandya, Annapurna Devi) after having been awarded a Ford Fellowship.\n\nRaised in America, Jay combines elements from world, European classical, jazz, Blues, country and rock music and deftly incorporates his extensive knowledge of Ragas (ancient Indian melodies) into his improvisations. Jay approaches the guitar as a storyteller in the language of music.\n\nAs a sitarist, he worked closely with guitarist Michael Hedges and toured and recorded with guitarist Stanley Jordan (Ragas, State of Nature), has released several classical sitar works as well as forming his band touchingGrace and recording \"The Gandhi Memorial Concert\" with his group, The Rajdhani Quartet. His debut solo guitar album, \"Stories from My Grandfather's Village\", and the album \"Rare\" from his duo thirty3 demonstrate a guitar style that reflects an intuitive ability to improvise melodic lines that capture the heart and transport the soul.\n\n\"My study of North Indian Classical music was in a discipline that is largely based on improvisation. This experience revealed to me that improvised music is the most honest expression of who I am at any given moment.\n\nThe question obviously arises as to why I switched from sitar to electric guitar. The simple answer is that I need to define my instrument, not have my instrument define me.\n\nKeeping in mind that my aim, my ultimate purpose for music is to express myself honestly, I abandoned the idea of teaching myself the guitar via the paths of the overwhelming guitar pedagogy available. I spent a great deal of time studying masters of the instrument and translating technique developed over a 25 year relationship with the sitar and Indian classical music. More so than playing sitar on the guitar, my journey has been to express myself rather than to be an ambassador of some tradition, be it either western or eastern. I needed to express myself, my aesthetic.\n\nThe sitar has a unique and distinct voice, a voice that is inherently tied to the history and culture that is India, and irrespective of the musical context, this connection to all that is \"India\" will always be a dominating presence.\n\nI needed an instrument that had an \"open\" tonal signature; one that was tonally versatile enough to allow me the capability of altering or affecting the tone so that it best serves whatever genre, whatever palette I wish to work in. The electric guitar also enables me to better realize my personal tonal aesthetic, what I think sounds beautiful. As a sitarist, I experimented with different kinds of wood, different thicknesses of wood, different string gauges, different string materials, and different tunings, all in an attempt to get away from that stereotypical sitar tone, what I called at the time \"psychedelic-banjo\". I later realized that all along I was trying to make my sitar sound closer to a guitar.\n\nIndian classical music is predominantly a solo form of music. In a classical recital there are two parts: one solo and the other with rhythm accompaniment, and although the exchange between the soloist and the Indian drums (tabla) can be very lively and entertaining, the form is more of a \"call and response\" rather than being characterized by interaction and creativity. Duets (jugulbandhi) are a recent addition to Indian classical music, but these, too, are built more on \"taking turns\" rather than on a symbiotic approach to the music. The electric guitar gave me an opportunity to improvise at a high level with other musicians, within other styles, in the language of music. I have always approached music as a storyteller, intuitively recognizing it as a language. The sound of the electric guitar is better able to blend within the confines and contexts of various musical surroundings rather than drawing attention away because of an overtly distinctive tonal fingerprint.\n\nBeing a first generation Indo-American raised in a culturally traditional household but growing up in a culturally diverse environment made expressing who I am complex. I needed an instrument that was open enough to explore whichever form of music I chose to engage in, and the guitar was the instrument that I had wanted to play since childhood.\n\nI aim to create and build an approach to music that has the power to heal, to edify and to transcend both listeners and the musicians who are its stewards. I want to create a form of music that is constantly growing and evolving - one which makes musicians grow and listeners evolve. Most importantly, I want this music to break the boundaries created by culture, religion and geography. Raga is the foundation of my methodology, which I am calling 'organic music'.\"\n\n~ Jay Kishor\n\n Photo credit: Doug Miller", "photo" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/img/jay_kishor_new.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/jay_kishor/", "albums" : [{ "sku" : "kishor-storiesgrandfather", "name" : "Stories from my Grandfather's Village", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2013-08-19", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","reflective","spiritual","nostalgic","mysterious","peaceful"], "uses" : ["documentary","emotional storytelling","meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["electric guitar","sitar","indian raga-based improvisation","live instrumental"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Live, improvised Indian raga-inspired electric guitar and sitar music evoking village stories; ideal for reflective, spiritual, or culturally rich documentary and wellness projects.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/Stories%20from%20my%20Grandfather's%20Village/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-storiesgrandfather/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-storiesgrandfather", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-storiesgrandfather" },{ "sku" : "kishor-sowebo1", "name" : "CD1 The Sowebo Concert", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2006-04-15", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","mysterious"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 1, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","live acoustic performance"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A contemplative, spare live sitar recording of two evening/nighttime Indian ragas, ideal for meditation, relaxation, or calm background in focused or spiritual contexts.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/CD1%20The%20Sowebo%20Concert/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-sowebo1/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-sowebo1", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-sowebo1" },{ "sku" : "kishor-sowebo2", "name" : "CD2 The Sowebo Concert", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2006-04-15", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","mysterious","calm"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","religious or ceremonial","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 1, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian classical instrumentation","live acoustic performance"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A 68-minute live sitar recording of Raga Malkauns, contemplative and spiritual, ideal for meditation, relaxation, or calm background in focused or ceremonial contexts.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/CD2%20The%20Sowebo%20Concert/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-sowebo2/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-sowebo2", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-sowebo2" },{ "sku" : "kishor-church", "name" : "First Congregational Church Concert", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2006-01-31", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","reflective","calm","mysterious"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","religious or ceremonial","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 1, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian classical vocals","acoustic","unaccompanied"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A live, austere Indian classical sitar and vocal performance of two traditional Ragas, deeply meditative and spiritual—ideal for yoga, meditation, or reflective background use.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/First%20Congregational%20Church%20Concert/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-church/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-church", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-church" },{ "sku" : "touchinggrace-happenstance", "name" : "Happenstance", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-03-06", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["peaceful","calm","dreamy","reflective","spiritual"], "uses" : ["study or focus","podcast background","meditation or yoga","spa or massage","cafe or restaurant","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","surbahar","indian classical instrumentation","melodic instrumental textures"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A soothing, accessible blend of Western pop-melodicism and Eastern circular structures featuring sitar and surbahar, ideal for background listening during work, study, or relaxation.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/Happenstance/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/touchinggrace-happenstance/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/touchinggrace-happenstance", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=touchinggrace-happenstance" },{ "sku" : "touchinggrace-panacea", "name" : "Panacea", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-03-06", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["peaceful","dreamy","ethereal","reflective","spiritual"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","nature documentary","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian classical instrumentation","ambient textures","spacey melodic lines"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A reflective, spacey Indian instrumental album featuring sitar, evoking celestial and dawn-like moods; ideal for meditation, nature content, and calm background use.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/Panacea/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/touchinggrace-panacea/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/touchinggrace-panacea", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=touchinggrace-panacea" },{ "sku" : "touchinggrace-reformation", "name" : "The Reformation Sessions", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-03-06", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["peaceful","reflective","hopeful","spiritual","calm","ethereal"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian-influenced instrumental","acoustic world instruments"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "A subdued, reflective Indian-influenced instrumental album featuring sitar, evoking transcendence and hope—ideal for relaxation, meditation, study, or calming background in videos and podcasts.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/The%20Reformation%20Sessions/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/touchinggrace-reformation/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/touchinggrace-reformation", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=touchinggrace-reformation" },{ "sku" : "touchinggrace-submission", "name" : "Submission", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-03-06", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["dreamy","reflective","meditative","groovy","ethereal","spiritual"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","nature documentary","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 3, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","surbahar","indian classical instruments","instrumental"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Dreamy, meditative Indian instrumental music blending sitar and surbahar, alternating between reflective calm and subtle grooves—ideal for meditation, nature docs, and focused listening.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/Submission/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/touchinggrace-submission/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/touchinggrace-submission", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=touchinggrace-submission" },{ "sku" : "kishor-payans", "name" : "The Payans Concert", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-03-03", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","reflective","exotic"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian classical instrumentation","instrumental world"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Indian classical instrumental music featuring sitar in two long-form ragas, ideal for meditative, spiritual, or focused listening contexts.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/The%20Payans%20Concert/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-payans/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-payans", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-payans" },{ "sku" : "rajdhani-memorial", "name" : "The Gandhi Memorial Concert", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2004-02-29", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["peaceful","meditative","spiritual","calm","reflective","dreamy"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","emotional storytelling","nature documentary"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","tabla","violin","mridangam"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Gentle, organic Indian instrumental music with sitar, tabla, violin, and mridangam, featuring lilting melodies and gem-like solos; ideal for calm, reflective, or spiritual contexts.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/The%20Gandhi%20Memorial%20Concert/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/rajdhani-memorial/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/rajdhani-memorial", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=rajdhani-memorial" },{ "sku" : "kishor-amber", "name" : "Amber", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2003-09-24", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","calm","reflective","exotic"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","documentary","emotional storytelling"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","tabla","indian classical instrumentation","vocal improvisation"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Indian classical raga performances featuring sitar and tabla, ideal for meditative, spiritual, or culturally rich background use in wellness, documentary, or focus-oriented projects.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/Amber/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-amber/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-amber", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-amber" },{ "sku" : "kishor-color", "name" : "The Color of Night", "artist" : { "name" : "Jay Kishor", "page" : "jay_kishor" }, "release_date" : "2003-09-12", "genres" : ["World","Indian","Instrumental World"], "vocals" : "instrumental", "moods" : ["meditative","spiritual","peaceful","mysterious","reflective","calm"], "uses" : ["meditation or yoga","spa or massage","study or focus","podcast background","emotional storytelling","religious or ceremonial"], "energy" : 2, "instrumentation" : ["sitar","indian classical instrumentation","instrumental world","vocal chants"], "sounds_like" : [], "summary" : "Indian classical instrumental album featuring sitar and vocals in ragas, ideal for meditation, yoga, and reflective or spiritual projects.", "cover" : "https://magnatune.com/music/Jay%20Kishor/The%20Color%20of%20Night/cover_400.jpg", "web_url" : "https://magnatune.com/artists/albums/kishor-color/", "api_url" : "https://magnatune.com/api/albums/kishor-color", "buy_url" : "https://magnatune.com/buy/album?sku=kishor-color" }] }, "license" : { "music_license" : "Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 1.0)", "music_license_url" : "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/1.0/", "listening" : "Stream the free previews, or buy an album for $8 to download it in MP3, AAC, ALAC, FLAC, OGG or WAV. 100% of the price goes to the musician.", "non_commercial" : "Non-commercial projects may use the music under CC BY-NC-SA 1.0: credit the artist and Magnatune, and share alike.", "projects" : "Magnatune members may use any Magnatune music in their projects, commercial or not (videos, films, podcasts, games, apps, websites, adverts), including work for clients, under the Magnatune Project Licence. Projects released while a member stay licensed for good; new projects need an active membership. Credit is required. TV or radio broadcast, cinema, and background music in shops, restaurants or on-hold lines are not included: license those from the musician. Membership: $10/month, $99/year or $299 lifetime; agents can buy one themselves with MPP at /api/member-pass ($10 month, $99 year, $299 lifetime, one-off).", "projects_status" : "available", "projects_signup" : "https://magnatune.com/member/signup", "royalty_free" : "Membership is royalty-free licensing: no per-video, per-download or per-view fees, for every project created and released while a member.", "youtube" : "YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, podcasts: members may use the clean songs in monetized videos. Members register their YouTube channel (the set_youtube_channel MCP tool, or their account page) so YouTube's Content ID doesn't claim their videos. The free versions carry a spoken Magnatune voice and are non-commercial (CC BY-NC-SA), so they're not for monetized channels or client work.", "details" : "https://magnatune.com/info/licensing", "how_to_credit" : "Name the artist and \"Magnatune\", with a link to the album's web_url." } }