A brief look this week at some modern jazz, Indian style.   Mainly the focus is on Garaj Mahal, a four piece band, based in the United States, that plays a nice mix of jazz, Indian music, and especially funk. The band consists of Kai Eckhardt on bass, Fareed Haque on sitar and guitars, Alan Hertz on drums, and Eric Levy on keyboards.  With 3 great albums under their belts and in a long summer tour, I hope we get more recordings from this interesting mix.

Also thrown into the mix is a dab of Trilok Gurtu – Indian percussionist and composer extraordinaire, and a little dash of a great new release “Miles From India”.  Tunes of Miles Davis in a whole new way from former Davis stars and Indian musicains from groups like Shakti!

Check out the CD’s and click on the links for more info on the bands:

Garaj Mahal

Trilok Gurtu

Miles From India

This Weeks Playlist:

Jazz ODC Playlist #153

This week the spotlight is on rising star Norwegian jazz group, The Helge Lien Trio. They won a 2008 Norwegian Grammy for their recording “Hello Troll” and are compared to Brad Mehldau and The Esbjorn Svensson Trio. Their website describes that 2008 release perfectly as “an album that paints lyrical- impressionistic moodscapes, and whose appeal is practically irresistible.

Check them out here.

Also included in the show is another trio that pianist Lien plays with Tri O’Trang. A saxophone, tuba and piano group that is a little bit more outside than his namesake trio. You will also hear music from Roberto Fonseca, Thievery Corporation, McCoy Tyner, Bajofondo Tango Club and more.

This Weeks Playlist:

Jazz Odyssey Playlist #152

April showers bring May flowers, sunny weather and warmer temperatures.  As we head toward summer we can expect lots of sunshine, hot weather and live jazz around the globe.  This episode all of the music is related to the sun, heat, flowers, growth and the inevitable advance of summer.  (As much as I love all the outdoor jazz festivals that I will get to go to in the summer – I really do not like the temperatures.  What can I say – I like winter!!)

Check out the playlist for specifics but here are some links to some of the recordings on this weeks show.  Enjoy and get ready for the summer because “Here Comes The Sun” and I guess – it’s all right!!

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones

St. Germain des Pres Vol 2

This Weeks Playlist:

Jazz Odyssey Playlist #151