George Harrison and Ravi Shankar interviewed by Mark McEwen for CBS This Morning, aired in May 1997.
“After the final mixing of the first four numbers [for Chants of India], [George] played them back for me and they sounded fantastic, giving me goose-bumps and a deep spiritual awareness. That evening he came and embraced me with tears in his eyes and simply said, ‘Thank you, Ravi, for this music.’ His emotion meant so much to me, and my eyes filled with tears too. If the rest of the pieces can have such effect, I will consider myself blessed for having worked diligently on all the composing, arranging and recording, despite the concerns and agonies that plagued mg mind throughout this difficult project. My heartfelt thanks go to George for making it possible by giving his hard work, care and love in fulfilling it. I believe in reincarnation, and must have been attached to George in other lives. He is not only a disciple or a friend; I love him as a son.” - Ravi Shankar, Raga Mala “I like producing Ravi’s music, because for me it’s educational as well as a joy to work with. It’s actually soothing to your soul, and it helps you to focus or transcend.” - George Harrison, Raga Mala “‘At the end of his life George said to me that all he could listen to was “Sarve Shaam,”’ Olivia remembers. ‘After all the sounds and sights and tastes you experience over a lifetime, it came down to the purity of “Sarve Shaam.”’ The piece was also performed as the opening blessing at the Concert for George memorial, held at London’s Albert Hall in 2002.” - Songlines, June 2018 (x) Mark McEwen reflects on the interview here.
