Anupam Shobhakar - Liquid Reality (2025) [Hi-Res]

Starting his musical journey at age 10 in Bombay, India, Anupam Shobhakar played guitar for rock and metal bands. But as his curiosity deepened, his focus shifted to the sarod, a 25-string fretless instrument from North India. Studying under Ustad Aashish Khan of the Maihar Gharana and other master musicians in the complex Indian classical tradition and performing in concerts around the world eventually led Anupam to NYC, which is now his home. The move reignited his interest in Western culture and fueled new explorations into jazz and classical music.

The music that came from this heady mix required a new instrument, one that could encompass his diverse influences, so a new instrument was born: the custom double-neck guitar. His creation blends both fretted and fretless, allowing Anupam to combine elements from the Indian sarod repertoire as well as a thrilling new range of musical ideas connecting East and West.

Long associations with NYC jazz musicians such as guitarist and composer Joel Harrison and drummer Dan Weiss ensued, as Anupam explored the meeting ground of classical Indian music, the sarod, and jazz. He was featured on the album The Middle of Everywhere by AGS records in 2024, along with some of the biggest names in jazz guitar including Kurt Rosenwinkel and Nels Cline, among others.

Following his historic 2023 solo release Raga Jhinjhoti on Fretless Guitar, the first-ever recording of Indian classical music for fretless guitar, Anupam breaks new ground again with the release of Liquid Reality.

The album’s compositions reflect a stunning range of influences, from mystic Sufi ghazals to progressive jazz-rock, and features a musical lineup of global masters including pianists Utsav Lal and Santiago Liebson, kanjeera player Swami Selva Ganesh, vocalists Ona Kirei and Ben Parag, and percussionists Satoshi Takeishi, Chris Savarino and Gumbi Ortiz.

Guitarist John McLaughlin and Shakti have been a constant musical inspiration for Anupam, and Liquid Reality pays tribute to those guiding lights with “La Dance de Bonheur”, a breathtaking reinvention of the Shakti classic.

Also featured on the album is “Anjaneya”, a heroic rock fusion piece honoring the Hindu deity Hanuman that features the album’s most challenging Indian rhythmic concepts; and “Formless”, a duo piece for guitar and kanjeera (South Indian frame drum).

With his latest release, Anupam Shobhakar not only expands the realm of electric guitar with the invention of his custom double-neck guitar but also expands the musical dialogue between East and West. Liquid Reality is essential listening for fans of adventurous jazz, rock and world music and for guitarists everywhere.

Anupam Shobhakar - double-neck fretted/fretless electric guitars;
Utsav Lal- piano
Ben Parag - vocals
Satoshi Takeishi - drums, percussion
Swaminathan SelvaGanesh - voice, ghatam, kanjeera, mridangam
Santiago Leibson - piano
Ona Kirei - vocals
Chris Saravino - drums
Gumbi Ortiz - percussion