TURÎYA
Recorded and mixed in 2013 at Music Together in Hopewell, New Jersey, this disc features exotic tuned-percussion instruments: the Halo, Hang and Zen Tambour. This is an album by drummers, but all in the context of composed melodic pieces. The music ranges from the fusionesque "Ebb and Flow" to the meditative Halo-Hang duet, "Moon Glow." There is a strong thread of improvisation throughout, and much of the music came to the musicians in the studio itself. The album has a flow from start to finish that is perfect for accompaning yoga practice, massage session, exercise, or dance routine.
Karttikeya plays the Halo, Hang, Hapi, udu, cajonito, keyboards and eclectic percussion.
Vincent Pierce Smith plays the Zen Tambour, tabla, cajon, Halo, Hang, udu, keyboards and a variety of percussion.
*****
"Deep and moving trance music combined with rare musicianship. A lovely CD!"
~ Jai Uttal - renowned kirtan and rock artist
"A sensuous, rhythm infused sonic landscape, perfect for yoga and other joys."
~ Girish - yogi, kirtan artist, composer, producer
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Dharma jazz
This cooperative quartet combined elements of North Indian classical music with jazz. Its members worked with many of the most famous names in jazz. The repertory of Dharma Jazz included traditional Indian ragas, original compositions by group members, and jazz classics. The sound of the group is unique because of the instrumentation—two melody instruments (guitar and keyboard) and two percussionists. The resulting sound has a spaciousness, an airiness, that captivated its audiences.
Freddie Bryant received a master’s degree in classical guitar from Yale School of Music and is in demand in the New York jazz and Brazilian scenes where he has worked with Eliane Elias, Tom Harrell and many others. He was a member of Ben Riley’s Monk Legacy Septet and has played with the Mingus Orchestra for two decades. He leads his own group, Kaleidoscope.
Karttikeya is a musician and a composer in many styles.
Lewis Porter is a jazz pianist, author, and former Professor of Music at Rutgers University, where he was the founding Director of the Master's Program in Jazz History and Research.
Badal Roy was the foremost exponent of tabla in jazz music. Born in India, he was one of the first Indian musicians to effectively meld Indian music and instruments with jazz and funk.