Forum of the Saxes

Matt AV · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 34 Location: Pondicherry, India

Hi,

Anybody interested in finding out about jazz in India let me know! I'm actually from UK but living here since some years. I play mainly tenor, but also compose and play piano. We have a good scene down here in South India, and if anyone would like to pass by, let me know!

Matt AV

reisio · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Florida

A good scene in India...really. What city/(ies)?

Matt AV · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 34 Location: Pondicherry, India

I am living in Pondicherry Tamil Nadu. It's south of Madras or Chennai. There are a number of good musicians here who live and perform here permanently. We have others who visit or pass through from Europe and the States. Ok, it's not New York, but for here its pretty good. We also have the oppertunity here to interact with music from another culture which is very interesting. Indian music is very complex, especially rhythmically and has much to offer jazz musicians.

reisio · Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 177 Location: Florida

echo "southern India" >> places2jam

Tully · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 170 Location: Woodinville, WA

I'd love to learn to incorporate Indian music into jazz. Could you recommend any artists, especially sax players, who do/did that?
_________________
My sound clips.

CMelodyMan · Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:39 pm Post subject:

Must be a very interesting place to live, India. Do you actually incorporate traditional Indian music into your playing?
_________________

Alto: Yanagisawa (880), Morgan 6M w/ Rico
C Melody: c.1919 Martin Inspiration
York soprano

Matt AV · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 34 Location: Pondicherry, India

Here there is a very well known musician called Kadri Gopalnath who plays south Indian classical music (Karnatic) on the sax. You can check out his website at www.kadrigopalnath.com/. He would certainly be the rolemodel if one wanted to play purely Indian calssical on the sax. Of the other famous artisits who have played here regularly and incorporated Indian music, one of the most important is John Mclaughlin. He had...and has a group called "Shakti" . www.remembershakti.com/discography.html There are many great albums recorded since the 70's with many of the top musicians of India. Jan garbarek is one of the sax players that is in this genre. I have not listened to so much of his work but I believe he has done alot in this field.

As far as incorporating Indian music into my own playing I try to listen as much as I can to recordings or live music. I have also studied Tabla for over a year which gave me a good basic insight into rhythm in Hindustani or Northern Indian classical music. The way rhythm is taught here is excellent, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to learn to improve in this area. I have recently been taking lessons in rhythm in Karnatic music too which is all taught through singing. It's a great system which really helps you to feel and understand rhythm. Playing with Indian musicians is of course the other good way to experience Indian music. For some years I was in a fusion band that mixed Jazz funk with Indian percussion and melodies. I learned alot from that.

Tully · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Posts: 170 Location: Woodinville, WA

Thanks for those links, that's fascinating stuff. Now that I think about it, I guess I have noticed some Indian influence in Garbarek's playing.
_________________
My sound clips.

Matt AV · Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 34 Location: Pondicherry, India

I forgot about Trilok Gurtu. He is a superb percussionist who has played with many great jazz musicians. I can recommend in particular the live concert in London at the Festival Hall with John McLaughlin.

http://www.trilokgurtu.net/