brandx@ihu1m.UUCP (Howard D. Weisberg) (04/09/85)
SHANKAR: "Song for Everyone" Musicians: L. Shankar - 10-string double violin, drum machine Jan Garbarek - tenor and soprano saxophones Zakir Hussein - tabla Trilok Gurtu - percussion This album is HOT. Last year's album with Garbarek and Palle Mikkelburg was good, but a little dark. This album is groundbreaking. A most interesting blend of Indian Classical and Jazz. This is the best mix of these two since Shakti. (Not to offend any Oregon fans - Oregon is much more than Indian and Jazz). Every other tune seems to be based on some hypnotic drum machine rhythm. The combination of drum machine, tabla, plus various other percussion (including cymbals) has to be heard to be appreciated. Garbarek is given lots of room. His very melodic playing mixes the Indian and Jazz veins quite well. Shankar is quite astounding, whether accompanying Garbarek (in much the same way as McLaughlin accompanied Shankar in Shakti) or when soloing. No wonder J. L. Ponty dropped his chin to the floor the first time McLaughlin introduced J.L.P. to Shankar's music. The music and the instrumentation really does break new ground (as good music should attempt to do) in a tasteful and musical way. If you are afraid of Indian Music (you don't like the slow repetive nature of some of it), you should know that this album is different. Every jazz fan (and everyone else) should go out and buy this album today (on ECM). By the way, "Rest in Peace" (dedicated to Shankar's late mother), is one of the most beautiful piece's of music since Shakti's "Peace of Mind."