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Rudresh
Mahanthappa
Samdhi
ACT 9513
HHHH
Labels can be such a pain. For
instance, although it would be
entirely accurate to describe
Samdhi as saxophonist Rudresh
Mahanthappa’s fusion album, it would also
be totally misleading. Even though his liner
notes admit that his early inspirations included
Grover Washington, David Sanborn, and the
Brecker Brothers, Samdhi just isn’t that kind of
fusion album.
That is, the kind with a backbeat.
Instead, Mahanthappa has taken aspects of
South Indian classical and folded in elements
of jazz, rock, and electronica to create something
that doesn’t sound like any of the above.
There are loops but no dance beats, virtuosity
but no flash, swing but no blues.
And while the electric instruments and
hyper-percussive interplay will put some listeners
in mind of the early Mahavishnu Orchestra,
Mahanthappa swaps the thundering dynamics
of McLaughlin’s band for a modest, almost
under-amplified soundscape.
In fact, the loudest thing on the album
tends to be Mahanthappa’s alto, especially
when fed through a multiphonic processor.
Guitarist David Gilmore
keeps his tone lean and
focused, which suits his
nimbly articulated runs,
while bassist Rich Brown
(from Toronto’s multi-culti
Autorickshaw) maintains a
similarly restrained sound,
and at times functions
almost like a second guitarist.
Drummer Damion Reid, a Mahanthappa
stalwart, has plenty of opportunity to strut his
stuff, but reins in the volume so as not to overpower
percussionist Anantha Krishnan.
Although many of the tunes take a straightforward
raga-rock approach, with scalar melodies
in compound time and improvisation
based as much on rhythmic as melodic
ideas, the band doesn’t stop there. “Parakram
#2,” one of two workouts with the laptop,
takes an almost symphonic approach to softsynths,
and nicely syncs the echoed alto
lines with drum loops, while the full-band
“Breakfastlunchanddinner” seamlessly bounces
between fusion and straightahead playing
without any loss in intensity. —J.D. Considine
Samdhi: Parakram #1; Killer; Richard’s Game; Playing With
Stones; Rune; Breakfastlunchanddinner; Parakram #2; Ahhh;
Meeting Of The Skins; Still-Gas; For My Lady; For All The Ladies.
(65:21)
Personnel: Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophone, laptop; David
Gilmore, electric guitar; Rich Brown, electric bass; Damion Reid,
drums; Anantha Krishnan, mridangam, kanjira.
Ordering info: actmusic.com
Donald Harrison
This Is Jazz
Half Note 4550
HHH
Six tunes. Three players. A
live gig at New York’s Blue
Note club, This Is Jazz is the
fourth record date between
alto player Donald Harrison,
bassist Ron Carter and drummer
Billy Cobham, the first
going back to 2002, a quartet session. This one
is their third as a trio (under Harrison’s name),
and it makes sense that they’d do a live one,
given the talent and looseness of their playing
and the repertoire.
Starting off with two blues, both by Carter,
“Cut & Paste” and “MSRP,” the mood is set.
And right off it becomes apparent that the uptempo
swing of “Cut & Paste” doesn’t serve the
band well, “MSRP”’s slower gait more satisfying.
And yet, even here, the swing thing just
doesn’t seem to gel, the trio’s sense of time a bit
off. Consequently, the highlights tend to come
with solos from Carter and Cobham (holding
his stealthy tendencies in check but not without
some familiar signatures here and there), especially
during the trading fours with between
the two on “MSRP,” with Cobham’s delectable
solo work on “Seven Steps To Heaven” and
especially with Carter’s solo turn all alone for
the standard “You Are My
Sunshine,” where the bassist’s
musical temperament
shines through laconic lines
and idiosyncratic idylls.
Harrison’s best moments
come toward the end, with
two tunes that could’ve been
the template here: the ballad
“I Can’t Get Started” and
Harrison’s funky, Crescent
City nod, “Treme Swagger.”
Playing a ballad takes the heat off the tempo,
allowing the altoist’s light and lyrical lights to
shine. He is a good interpreter of a song like “I
Can’t Get Started,” the rest of the band playing
the perfect complementary roles. The set ends
on a high note, with a backbeat and an attitude,
or swagger, if you will. Here, all three join in
with a pulse, with more soul and, rhythmically,
a groove that brings it all together.
Sonically, the production gives listeners the
feel of being there, the appreciative audience
heard but not crowding out the music. The pan
has Harrison and Carter somewhat off to left
and right, respectively, with Cobham in the
middle. Kind of like the playing.
—John Ephland
This Is Jazz: Cut & Paste; MSRP; You Are My Sunshine; Seven
Steps To Heaven; I Can’t Get Started; Treme Swagger. (56:33)
Personnel: Donald Harrison, alto saxophone; Ron Carter, bass;
Billy Cobham, drums.
Ordering info: donaldharrison.com
DECEMBER 2011 DOWNBEAT 87