Samdhi del indio Rudresh Mahanthappa es un magnífico muestrario de la historia musical del joven saxofonista. Fusión en el más amplio sentido del término, más allá de las limitaciones que impone el estilo de jazz, en su música se encuentran ecos de Charlie Parker y su parcial puesta al día en forma de M-Base, el jazz-fusion, música tradicional de la India, e incluso ecos de Frank Zappa o del metal progresivo. Asombra la naturalidad con la que el saxofonista maneja tal mezcolanza de estilos. El disco aparece estructurado en torno a unas composiciones extensas, entre las que se incluyen unos interludios más breves y temas interpretados en solitario por cada uno de sus acompañantes. Estos son una de sus grandes bazas, ya que tanto el saxofonista como el guitarrista Steve Gilmore, el bajista Rich Brown, el baterista Damion Reid y el percusionista Ananthan Krishnan se muestran perfectos para la música. Rápidos y precisos en los desarrollos obligados, imaginativos y libres en sus respectivos solos. Si una de las cartas de naturaleza del jazz es la fagocitación de distintos estilos musicales, Samdhi es uno de sus mejores ejemplos. - Pachi Tapiz
About halfway through the aptly named "Killer," it becomes apparent that saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa's Samdhi is up to something just a little different. Amid the track's impossible changes and blistering tempo, the saxophonist's alto undergoes acoustic-electric alterations that are processed through a laptop. Not that it was ever needed, but this embracing of technology, and other influences, adds yet another dimension to his repertoire.
Samdhi is the product of Mahanthappa's receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2008, which allowed him to explore the fusion of electronic music, ancestral Indian music and jazz. It spawned a new group with a number of early dates and the results are striking. While slightly different from previous works, this release is an extension of his cutting edge, multicultural jazz that's been documented in recordings such as Kinsmen (Pi Recordings, 2008) and Apex (Pi Recordings, 2010), with saxophonist Bunky Green.
The release hearkens in some ways to the sounds of 1970s and 1980s—"blending," a label that was frequently used and abused, since jazz in itself is a blending of varied cultures and music . The sound does include elements of progressive rock and electronic instrumentation, but is also a singular identity as alluded to in the release's title. In Sanskrit, samdhi means "that which combines or unites" or "the interval between day and night."
This idea of unification lies at the heart of the project, as heard in David Gilmore 's solo guitar in "Rune," a precursor to the funky, rhythmic explosion in "Breakfastlunchanddinner," a jam that parties hard like Return to Forever. The tune contains not only Gilmore's hypersonic shreds but also the layered rhythms from drummer Damion Reid and Carnatic (South Indian) percussionist Anatha Krishnan, and a groovy Jaco Pastorius-like solo from strongman Richard Rabbit Brown on electric bass.
"Parakram #2" is a sonic journey of undulating loops, pumped beats, and wild synthesized textures. The track's creative programming is exhaustive yet segues nicely into the flowing vibrations of "Ahhh," a tune whose tempo swells and quickens into a sublime groove where all the musicians shine. Another highlight is "Meeting of the Skins," a tour-de-force drumming exchange between Krishnan and Reid, each musician spurring the other to new heights.
From start to finish, the music never abandons its flavor. Stimulating, open-minded, and never pretentious, this is Mahanthappa's most accessible release to date. - Mark F. Turner
Samdhi, the latest release from alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa, was one of the freshest, most exciting albums of 2011. It is named for the Sanskrit word for twilight and, as twilight blurs the boundary between day and night, Samdhi blurs the boundaries separating jazz, the music of Mahanthappa’s ancestral India, electronics, jazz-rock fusion and funk. The result is uniquely charged and beautiful.
Mahanthappa is joined by David Gilmore on electric guitar, Rich Brown on electric bass, Damion Reid on drums and Anantha Krishnan on South Indian percussion; these players, solo or in duet, provide introductory tracks that precede the ensemble cuts. Brown’s bass anticipates “Playing With Stones” with an improvisation titled “Richard’s Game,” his fat, bouncy tone calling to mind Jaco Pastorius. Gilmore sets up “Breakfastlunchanddiner” with “Rune,” whose shimmering chords and bent notes give it a slow, meditative feel despite some quick runs, and whose Indian accents may reference John McLaughlin more than Mahanthappa. “Meeting of the Skins” is the joint introduction Reid and Krishnan provide for the shape-shifting “Ahhh.” - Bill Beuttler
Tracks
01. Parakram #1 (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
02. Killer (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
03. Richard's Game (Rich Brown)
04. Playing with Stones (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
05. Rune (David Gilmore)
06. Breakfastlunchanddinnner (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
07. Parakram #2 (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
08. Ahhh (Rudresh Mahanthappa)
09. Meeting Of The Skins (Reid/Damion / Krishnan)
10. Still-Gas (Mahanthappa, Rudresh)
11. For My Lady (Mahanthappa, Rudresh)
12. For All The Ladies (Mahanthappa, Rudresh)
RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA alto saxophone & laptop
DAVID GILMORE electric guitar
RICH BROWN electric bass
DAMION REID drums
"ANAND" ANANTHA KRISHNAN mridangam & kanjira
Recorded October 9, 2008 at Systems Two, Brooklyn, New York
ACT Music ACT 9513-2