CD Review: Sameer Gupta's Bolly-Jazz

Sameer Gupta

Namaskar

Motema

A jazz drummer and tabla talent, Sameer Gupta brings us a collection of songs inspired by early Bollywood film scores. The Sanskrit album title can mean "show respect", or "welcome" in English. Namaskar is something worthy of respect and it has a very welcoming sound. There are connections with American/Latin jazz and Indian music, which I appropriately dub 'Bolly-Jazz'. Sameer is joined by Marc Cory (keyboards, ableton, piano), Pt. Anindo Chatterjee (tabla), Pt. Ramesh Misra (sarangi), Srinivas Reddy (sitar), David Boyce (sax, EFX, clarinet), Prasant Radhakrishnan (carnatic sax), Charith Premawardanan (viola), and David Ewell (acoustic bass). The music is jazzy with hints of Latin and classical, amidst a wandering rhythm sound of Indian delight. Importantly, the music does not contain any vocalizations. Anyone with an appreciation for world fusion, jazz, Indian, avante-garde, and related styles will find inner (and outer) happiness with Namaskar. Lastly, the liner notes contain English interviews with Marc and Pts. Anindo and Ramesh. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Najma Akhtar and Gary Lucas

Najma Akhtar and Gary Lucas

Rishte

World Village

U.K.-born vocalist, Najma Akhtar, joins with guitarist Gary Lucas for a stunning album. The musical relationship between Najma and Gary lay in the guitar. Najma's vocals are mostly in Urdu, except for English on a bluesy cover song from Skip James in the 1930's and track ten. Gary's guitar playing does for Najma what Ry Cooder did for the late-Ali Farka Toure. Rishte is a mix of traditional Indian music and classical folk styles. However, the guitar playing is more folksy and bluesy than rock-oriented. At any rate, it is an interesting musical relationship rarely encountered in world music today. Perhaps fans of other guitarists on world music recordings, including Ry Cooder, Bob Brozman, and Ben Bowen King will find Rishte to their liking. Also, world fusion fans will delight in the music. The liner notes include English and French translations of song summaries. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Janaka Selekta

Janaka Selekta

Pushing Air

Chaiwalla's Boombox

Sri Lankan-native, Janaka Selekta, has become an important fixture in the world of Asian electronica in the San Francisco area and beyond. Janaka's world travels have shaped his electro-musicality by serving delicious breakbeats with nice additions of Bansuri flute, tabla, and sarangi. Furthermore, haunting male and female vocals add another layer of rich, sound textures. The Asian trip-hop musical concept has been explored by other artists with little in the way of an organic, engaging sound worth remembering. Janaka fills that void for world dub and electronica fans. Whether you call this Asian dub, electronic, world beat, downtempo, or trance, Janaka's music soars effortlessly into the outer reaches of our universe and back again, while pushing the limits on Pushing Air. Definitions aside, Pushing Air is perfect for the club, dorm, office, or party, but it will basically leave you breathless yearning for more 'air'. Don't worry, it's all in good fun. A remix by Karsh Kale is included. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Girish's 'Diamonds In The Sun'

Girish
Diamonds In The Sun
Independent Release

Girish is an American vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and harmonium player with a relaxed, yet intelligent approach to music creation. Specifically, Girish studied yoga, meditation and ancient Sanskrit texts and chants, some of which are incorporated throughout the album. Importantly, this is not a lack-luster attempt at spiritual enlightenment through music. Instead, Girish produces lively, Sanskrit and English-language tracks with pleasant rhythms and folksy vocals all performed under the larger umbrella of the New Age/World Music label. Girish is joined by a plethora of musicians with instruments ranging from the esraj, mandolin, sarangi, piano, violin, and various brass and strings. Altogether, Diamonds In The Sun is a 'brilliant' album in a genre all its own - appropriately defined as 'yoga-pop'. The title track would probably be a perfect single for the genre in a yoga-pop Top 10 list. Listen to Girish bring light into your world. Shine on, shine on! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Ghalia Benali & Bert Cornelis

Ghalia Benali & Bert Cornelis

Al Palna

Music & Words

The Tunisian and Belgian duo, Ghalia Benali and Bert Cornelis present songs from a place of complete inner beauty. Essentially, Ghalia's classical voice and Bert's sitar work along with additional instrumentation bridging the gap between North Africa and South Asia are the result of an eclectic group of musicians from Iraq, India and Morocco. The dreamy, almost meditative quality of the instruments and sparse vocals unleash the mind's heightened states of wellbeing. The translation of 'Al Palna' is The Cradle. In that regard, the music reminds one of child-like wonderment and innocence. The musical nature of Al Palna is well-suited for fans of traditional Middle Eastern and North African music. If you are a fan of inventive sitar playing, Sufi-like and Sheila Chandra-esque vocals, then begin with the music from the 'cradle'. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Calcutta's 1978 Bharat Karki & Party

Bharat Karki & Party

International Music

E.M. Records

Recorded in Calcutta, India in 1978, International Music is essentially a thrilling psychedelic funk-fest with trippy rhythms, acid-jazz horns, and spy-film-themed instrumental tracks. A mixture of instrumental sounds traverses numerous melodies and rhythms, but maintains a strong Indian funk fusion inherent in many of the psychedelic releases of the 1970's throughout South Asia. Bharat Karki is joined by other artists, including Khoka, Benu Chatterjee, Bimal Biswas, and numerous others. If anything, International Music is so-called for it's global reach or acceptance throughout the world, instead of signifying a musical work with numerous instruments, mixed genres, and various vocals. In fact, vocals are virtually non-existent and only add to the instrumental beats. Perhaps the only drawback on this release is the length (under 25 minutes). At any rate, International Music is 25 minutes of pure groovy gold and definitely belongs in a collection of Indian psychedelic music. Also available on LP. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Nguyen Le's "Saiyuki"

Nguyen Le

Saiyuki

ACT Music

Saiyuki is a transglobal and cross-cultural product of Eastern and Western influences. Vietnam-born Nguyen Le's guitar work is lively, spirited, and rich in rhythm. He is joined by Japan's Mieko Miyazaki on the koto and shamisen. Mieko also provides vocals, along with Prabhu Edouard on tabla and percussion. A special guest star is India's bansuri flute-maestro, Hariprasad Chaurasia. The entire album has an improvisational feel with scatting vocals, ethereal synths, and progressive-jazz undertones. Anyone familiar with the superb guitar playing abilities of the late-Shawn Lane and his work with Jonas Hellborg will find comparisons to Nguyen Le's guitar and Prabhu's tabla playing. "Mina Zaki" is a track evocative of Thomas Newman's 1999 American Beauty film score. In an age when fusion often results in a musical "con-fusion", Saiyuki dispels this connotation and raises far above a typical fusion releases. The subtle nuances, various instrumentation, and haunting, but beautiful, rhythms, encapsulates the essence of the Asian, Indian, and Western-inspired album. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Move Over Lady Gaga...Shaheen Sheik Is Here

Shaheen Sheik

Revolution

Independent Release

Based in Los Angeles, Shaheen is a singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer that has ancestral roots back in India. Shaheen's music is highly contemporary and borders on lounge jazz, trip-hop, dance, electronica, hip hop, and pop. However, the music is not filled with over-the-top electronics and heavy, pulsating drum beats to bore you beyond belief. Revolution is an organic and satisfying experience for the casual listener of Indian (South Asian) American music. There are slow, trippy-beats throughout, Macy Gray-like grooves on the song 'Revolution', jazzy-dance-funkiness on 'Coconut', hip-hop ladened 'Here We Go', and the danceable 'Elevate'. In short, there are beats, sounds, and lyrics for everyone. Shaheen sings in English with a few words in Hindi. Move over Lady Gaga...there is a new girl in town and her name is Shaheen Sheik. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Kailash Kher & Company

Kailash Kher & Kailasa

Yatra (Nomadic Souls)

Cumbancha

An invigorating release from India showcases singer Kailash Kher and his band Kailasa. This is where contemporary Indian pop music meets traditional roots and rhythms. There is a solid, Indian-ness to the songs, with some elements of Sufi, Gypsy, funk, reggae, and electronic beat music. The contemporary music is produced with help from traditional instrumentation as well, including rabab, saz, oud, santoor, harmonium, sitar, and various percussion. Perhaps Yatra (Nomadic Souls) is an homage to the global music listener, while taking in, absorbing, and processing various styles for 'nomadic souls' around the world. Yatra (Nomadic Souls) traverses the musical spectrum from up-beat dance sounds of "Tauba Tauba" and "Jhoomo Re" to the slower rhythms of "Piya Ghar Aavenge". This is a highly-recommended, adventurous musical journey for anyone interested in contemporary Indian music. The songs are sung in Hindi, but English lyrics are provided in the liner notes, along with colored pictures. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Music from The Green Vine

35th Parallel

The Green Vine

Independent Release

35th Parallel's 2003 release, The Green Vine, weaves through and within the world's great musical cultures. In fact, the band's name comes from the latitude of intersecting musical regions that heavily influence their music. 35th Parallel is based in Vermont, right down the road from my alma mater, Goddard College, where Mac Ritchey and Gabe Hallberg create a fusion of music from the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and North India. The entirely instrumental release features sounds on the oud, bouzouki, acoustic guitar, didjeridoo, gongs, tablas, pakhawaj, tar, tamboura, and electronic accompaniment. The tracks are never busy or overdone. Some tracks are attributed to guest musicians Mohammad Omar and Aziz Herawi) or historical figures (Gomidas) in music. Each track reveals a different musical journey, which is always surprising and fresh. The 35th Parallel is not that far away. Hear it today. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack

Various Artists
Slumdog Millionaire (Music from the Motion Picture)
Interscope

The film Slumdog Millionaire has taken the world by storm, and now legions of people are dancing to the groove of "Jai Ho," that final piece where the entire cast bust a move, Bollywood-style. Composer A. R. Rahman brings together traditional and contemporary Indian music to bring atmosphere to a movie featuring different times and circumstances, flashing between the past and present. Another highlight is the beautiful "Dreams on Fire," which is essentially "Latika's Theme" with lyrics. If you liked the movie, you'll love to revisit your memories by listening to the soundtrack.
~ Paula E. Kirman

CD Review: Jaya Lakshmi's 'Radiance' Shines

Jaya Lakshmi

Radiance

Sequoia Records

Oregon's Jaya Lakshmi's effervescent, yet relaxing, music for the human spirit is a very moving exploration of inner peace, beauty, and transcendence. Each song is unique and incorporates Jaya's serene vocals. The addition of the Celtic flute, Spanish guitar, sarod, cello, keyboards, Bansuri flute, and other elements make Radiance a truly enjoyable listening experience. The instrumental interludes and segues provides an added, therapeutic sensation. The tranquil, yet melodious musical structures, is perfect for yoga, relaxing, or a world music party. "Sita Ram" is a particularly beautiful and catchy tune that should not be missed. The music does not fit any one category of world music, but it draws upon Central and South Asian musical traditions, while infusing vocal arrangements similar to contemporary bands from Scandinavia, and even a slight nod to the band Enigma. In summary, Jaya's Radiance shines beyond borders. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sacred Music of India

Various Artists
Sacred Music of India
Silk Road Communications

This recording is a collection of live performances recorded during the Global Event of the World Festival of Sacred Music in Bangalore, India from April 9-16, 2000. The event was organized by Tibet House, Cultural Center of H.H. the Dalai Lama. In fact, a short foreword and speech by H.H. the Dalai Lama is included in the liner notes. Unfortunately, the speech is not on the CD. Yet, nearly 50 pages of text accompanies the CD in an attractively-illustrated, hardbound package. 12 tracks feature contemporary and traditional instrumental and vocal music from Sri Lanka in the South to Tibet in the North. The usual instrumentation of Indian music is present, including, tabla, tala, harmonium, sarangi, dholak, ektara, flute, and more. All liner notes are in English. The vocals are superb and very lively at various points. If you want to experience a live recording of the best sacred music from india, then sit back and enjoy the engaging melodies traditional Indian music. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Go Ga-Ga For Raga

Shivoham
Shankara
Silk Road Communications

For anyone looking for meditative or contemplative raga music, then stop no further. Shivoham is the name for Aparna Panshikar (vocals), Bhargav Mistry (sarod), and Debashish Upadhyay (keyboards). This album celebrates Shankara -- one of the great mystical poets and philosophers in India's history. There are 6 long tracks that feature sparkling and tinny sounds of the sarod, with the added beats of tabla, too. Aparna's glorious vocals add a nice touch to the music. Her voice fits quite naturally with the instrumentation and overall tempo. Shankara's 6 core beliefs of a worldview are included in the liner note book. In fact, there are nearly 50 pages of text, photos, and illustrations throughout the book. The liner notes contain song lyrics in Romanized Sanskrit and English, with commentary in English. Shankara is steeped in centuries-old tradition, but is nevertheless, a very original and contemporary album. If you want to relax, then you've come to the right place. ~ Matthew Forss

Book Review: Folk Songs From Uttar Pradesh

Laxmi Ganesh Tewari. Folk Songs From Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi: D.K. Printworld (P) Ltd, 2006. x + 333 pp. Glossary, bibliography. ISBN 81-246-0354-5. $27.50, hardbound.

Anyone interested in researching the folk music of the world will be particularly surprised with this new book from professor, ethnomusicologist, and author, Dr. Laxmi Ganesh Tewari. However, the focus of the book is exclusively Uttar Pradesh, and would be most beneficial to researchers in this geographic region between Northern India and neighboring Nepal. The book opens with a 15-page introduction, which provides a good foundation of the historical and cultural significance of the music, as well as the author's interest in the subject. There are 5 chapters devoted to each group of songs, including: Bhajan (prayer/religious), Ceremonial, Seasonal, Jhonjhi-Tesu Festival (see link for more info), and Miscellaneous. A total of 261 folk songs are included in English, Hindi, and Romanized Hindi languages. This is a perfect book for lyrical or poetic study of the songs, as only lyrics are provided without musical notation, analysis or commentary. Essentially, the songs speak for themselves without the need for added notes or unnecessary commentary. A helpful key for transliteration is included, with a glossary and short bibliography that attests for the region's scant amount of literature on the subject. The only drawbacks: lack of index, no song titles, and absence of accompanying CD. To be fair, the songs are numbered, and may or may not have had titles. Also, Dr. Tewari produced/recorded a CD titled Indian Folk Music from Uttar Pradesh (Lyrichord LYRCD-7452) in 2006, from field research from 1972-1999. This is a highly recommended companion for listening to some of the songs in the book, and it is one of the very few commercial recordings of music from Uttar Pradesh. For a more advanced study of the songs from a musicological perspective (notation, poetic meters, etc.), the researchers should look elsewhere. Overall, Dr. Tewari presents a thorough exploration of the folk songs from Uttar Pradesh with a relatively inexpensive work, as most ethnomusicological books on specific locations tend to be very pricey - over $100. However, it will be difficult for many to find any significant research on the music of Uttar Pradesh, without consulting Dr. Tewari's 30+ years of experience in ethnomusicological studies. This is a great book for the casual music traveler and researcher of Central/South Asian studies.

Dr. Tewari is a Professor of Music at Sonoma State University, California. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Zia Mohiuddin Dagar [2 CD]

Zia Mohiuddin Dagar
Zia Mohiuddin Dagar [2 CD]
Nimbus

The late-Zia Mohiuddin Dagar was one of the very few specialists in the rudra vina (Indian chordophone). Anyone who is familiar with Indian ragas will be enthralled by Zia's amazing playing skills. On disc one, Zia plays an alap from the Yaman raga. Disc two features the raga Shuddha Todi. Thankfully, the music is well-documented in the liner notes. This set is highly recommended for the ethnomusicology student of classical Hindustani music, as well as the casual listener of South Asian classical music. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Sona - India's Pop Princess

Sona
Sona
Sony BMG (India)

The angelic vocals of India's Sona touches the heart of every listener. This is a contemporary album of Hindi songs. Of course, the Bollywood sound is not too far from some of the songs on this album. Her vocals are backed with contemporary arrangements, Latin-like rhythms, and Indian roots. Some of the songs are Western-tinged ballads and Indian dance hits all sung in the Hindi language. A favorite dance hit, "Aaja Ve", stands out. A Central Asian-like tune, "Ishq Nachaya", incorporates classical arrangements, earthy percussion, electronic elements, and flowing vocalizations. Other favorites include: "Aise Jaagi Re", "Sapne", and two remixes of "Bolo Na" and "Ishq Nachaya". The meanings of the songs are included in the liner notes. A fun album not to be missed! ~ Matthew Forss