TASA -
Bhakti
2000
Anamayakosha (fretless bass solo)
Akbar's Jewel
reviews
"You wouldn't know it from the usual media sources, except maybe on the odd eclectic college radio show, but the mix and match process of jazz and world music continues apace. It's a relatively underground phenom that occasionally pokes its head above the surface in places like the Knitting Factory or in the very occasional high-profile context, as with Shakti. But work is being done, and music is being made with an ear for cultural syntheses that make artful sense.
Fusion, of a worldly sort, is the milieu of Tasa, a Canadian group led by tabla player Ravi Naimpally. On Bhakti, the cover image combines the images of the Hindu deity Hanuman and Christ, and the music within is similarly torn in its sympathies-or you could say generous in its perspective. Exotic and atmospheric tunes give rise to Western blowing by guitarist John Gzowski, saxist Ernie Tollar (who couples on bansuri and ney) and bassist Chris Gartner (also credited with "groovy vibe").
Josef Woodward - JAZZ TIMES
"Tasa is a jazzier more North Indian-oriented Remember Shakti with bass and saxophone replacing mandolin. On Bhakti, Tasa's first album, the production is chamber scale, instruments form small partnerships, maintaining musical territory whilst tentatively venturing out into the beyond, the playing exploratory, the bass/tabla grooves anchor the group for limited excursions into solo space. Coryell & Hariprasad's "Music Without Boundaries" and a wealth of other Indofusion styles like Nadaka's work are grounded by Shakti and Remember Shakti, but Tasa also clearly draws from other influences; the melody of the title track is in the style of Weather Report's
"The Pursuit Of The Woman With The Feathered Hat" from
"Mr. Gone" and "Sweetnighter"'s "Boogie Woogie Waltz".
John Mclaughlin Archives
"Toronto-based world music ensemble Tasa celebrate the release of their debut CD entitled Bhakti. The title Bhakti means Devotion and that is precisely what the musicians of Tasa give in their performances on this amazing work that merges music, mind, and spirit of east and west together in a fresh and understanding way. The nine tracks of original instrumental music featured on Bhakti ranges from the upbeat and funky to the sublime. Tasa's music is based on the ancient Raga and Tala system from India and diverges into several other genres of world music including Brazilian, Arabic, and Jazz. The CD is filled with intricate rhythms and beautiful Indian melodies. Each composition provides a distinctive environment for extended improvisation. The album moves from groove-oriented pieces such as Akbar's Jewel to etheric ballads such as Anamayakosha. Tasa is led by tabla player/composer Ravi Naimpally, and features inventive guitarist John Gzowski, soulful bansuri and saxophone player Ernie Tollar, the eclectic drumming of Alan Hetherington, and funky former Look People bassist Chris Gartner. Together they represent some of the best players of world music in Canada today."
Abstract Logix
C.G. - bass, all tracks
Produced by ANREW HURLBUT
Engineered by JEREMY DARBY
"Jazzy and slinky, it evokes a sexy encounter in a dark lounge one minute and meditation in a green open field the next. In the tradition of Coltrane, the CD shuttles between western jazz and Indian systems of musical scales, the Raga and Tala."
Vinita Srivastava, Impulse Magazine
"It’s unfailingly interesting... the new album features lush, dense rhythmic overlays and haunting sounds..."
Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star
"The sheer confidence of the playing makes Bhakti elegant and virtually unclassifiable."
Rating: NNNN
Matt Galloway - NOW Magazine
