Baluji.com-JazzOrient Review2

North Indian Classical Musician, Composer & Educationalist

Home About Events Press Biog Audio Video Current Projects Education Mailing List Contact

Jazz Orient/Re Orient

Album Reviews

“Shepherd and Shrivastav produce fireworks!” Songlines, UK 2006

“Music to engage the mind , heart, and soul” …. Indian rhythms and percussion collide with jazzy improvisation ……….Their music draws influences from European folk tradition as well as jazz and the Indian sub-continent, fusing them into cohesive and unusually satisfying structures. MK Jazzwise Magazine

Shrivastav has a way to integrate western hooks into ragas….it is the warmth and good humour of the basic trio and Shrivastav’s musical vision that make this album worth investigating”. Global Rhythm, USA, 2006 (Leading US World Music Magazine)

“outstanding Indian classical musicians interact with jazz soloists for a veritable feast of sounds……..gorgeous melodies throughout. Lovely stuff.” L.A. Daily News 2006

Re-Orient Indian World Fusion ARC Music EUCD1413

Re-Orient is acclaimed Indian classical musician Baluji Shrivastav with members of the group Jazz Orient, plus various guest artists. Together, on Indian World Music Fusion, they present 23 different musical instruments, and a fusion of styles that draws upon both traditional and improvisational sources. As the sleve notes tell us, the band would like us to ”let go of dogma and listen from the heart”. The amalgam of talents and Eastern and Western approaches has produced an invigorating and unique recording. This is further achieved through the diverse combination of instruments, such as Irish tin whistle and ghatam, as found on the superb “Child of the Emerald Air”, or saxophone and sitar on “ Unforgotten Days”, and flute and dilruba on the improvised “Pani Hari”.

Great jjazz elements are threaded throughout, but no more keenly felt than on the delightful”Tarana 16”, which features a terrific piano solo, along with eclectic vocalisations from Linda Shanovitch. Her voice, melds seamlessly with all the other instrumentation and is peppered throughout the 10 tracks. Indian World Music is a gem to discover, unfolding in many interesting directions. Jasper

Ambience, Internet Music Site

RE-ORIENT

In this unusual but recommended world music hybrid, outstanding Indian classical musicians interact with jazz soloists for a veritable feast of sound. There are improvised ragas, in which sax, bamboo flutes and tabla dialogue, fast Turkish rhythms, meetings of sitar and 12 string guitar, peaceful musical reflections via soprano sax and gorgeous melodies throughout. Lovely stuff.***L.A. DAILY NEWS

RE-ORIENT with Baluji Shrivastav Seven Steps to The Sun ARC EUCD 1490

This is a light, smooth blend of Hindustani music and American jazz. Multi-instrumentalist Shrivastav ( sitar, dilruba, bulbul, tarang, and other instruments) surrounds himself with a fine group of musicians. Joining him are Chris Conway on keyboards, guitars and other instruments; Linda Shanovitch on voice; Ustad Faiyaz Khan on tabla; Gerry Hunt on saxophone and other instruments; and Clive Bell on bansuri, voice and ney. The arrangements take full advantage of the improvisational nature of both cultures’ music, giving short shrift to neither. Traditional raags and taals form the basis for tonal and rhythmic exploration. The Eastern and Western instrumental timbres mix well, never sounding contrived. Shanovitche’s light lexible voice floats over it all with cool insouciance. Shrivastav anf friends prove once again to be masters of world fusion (PJL) Dirty Linen (USA)

JAZZ ORIENT BIRD DANCER- ZAH ZAH ZZCD 9808 ***

“Music to engage the mind , heart, and soul” trumpets the sleeve, and the CD opener, “Vanita’s Dance”, is certainly an arresting statement of intent: Indian rhythms and percussion collide with jazzy improvisation as vocalist Linda Shanovitch weaves through the mix sounding like Bjork on helium. Jazz Orient are Shanovitch, Baluji Shrivastav on sitar, tabla and voice and Chris Conway on keyboards gitars and tin whistle. Their music draws influences from European folk tradition as well as jazz and the Indian sub-continent, fusing them into cohesive and usuaually satisfying structures. Shanovitch’s voice in particular is striking and expressive throughout. MK Jazzwise Magazine

Live Performance

…..genre trashing Jazz Orient –

Evening Standard,Paul Clark

Baluji Shrivastav from India on sitar and dilruba.(Blind, wearing shades and immaculately tailored silk Sgt. Pepper tunic, Shrivastav is incidentally the Nattiest Man in the band)

Chris May, All About Jazz

Linda Shanovitch gave a striking example of Kathak footwork with the ankle bells reflecting the tiny changes in rhythm. For those of us used to the minimalist music the nuances were quite exquisite. A magnificent evening and happily well attended.

Hasting and St. Leonards Observor

Top

Back