Al compas del mundo - programa 67 - “Jazz” and the influence of music from India

Breaking the lease tonight.

TRACKLIST “Jazz” and the influence of music from India first broadcast on RadioActiva March 9, 2023

01 John Handy - Ganeesha's Jubilee Dance

02 John McLaughlin, Jean-Luc Ponty and Zakir Hussein - Lotus Feet

03 Pharoah Sanders - Astral Traveling

04 Cheb i Sabbah - Shri Durga

05 Ravi Shankar and Phillip Glass - Ragas in Minor Scale

06 VidyA, with Prasant Radhakrishnan – Paavanaguru

07 Brooklyn Raga Massive (Coltrane Raga Tribute) - Blue Nile

So what do jazz and Indian music, at least the classical styles emulated here, have in common? Improvisation. Both work off of pre-determined scales, provide an intro, and then let ‘er rip! There’s a lot of that here and it works wonderfully well. VidyA’s music is probably the most faithful to its roots, playing Carnatic music from southern India. Though Algerian DJ Cheb I Sabbah’s offering is an actual cut-up of Indian music remixed with his outsider’s taste. And then there’s Pharoah Sanders who borrows some basic subcontinental themes while off on his astral voyage (hoping to meet up with Jonathan Richmond?) Brooklyn Raga Massive’s tribute to Coltrane just floats along in a most delicious way. Ravi Shankar and Zakir Hussein, amongst their country’s greatest musical treasures, are impeccable as always. And starting off this whole trip to lotus land is the Bay Area’s own, saxophonist John Handy, showing us even an elephant god can be light on its feet when given the right musical inspiration. Boogie on, Lord Ganeesha!

The Brooklyn Rhapsodics

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