reviews
"Tasa's second CD continues the journey in stretching limits and definitions at the same time as bringing closer different worlds. 'Soma' is a great step forward into the musical realm of classical indian music's power to speak jazz's freedom in a fresh way. From mystical vocalizations to powerful violin to sultry flute with melodies and rhythms that bring us to new places, this Toronto based group has done it again!"
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TASA -
Soma
2002
Megh (fretless bass intro)
C.G. - bass, all tracks
co-composer on Hari Om
Produced by ANDREW HURLBUT
MIxed by JEREMY DARBY
photo from the recording sessions with Dhruva Ghosh
"Soma" has a tight, full, developed and accomplished sound, augmented with the guest appearance of sarangi maestro Dhruba Ghosh (son of tabla great
Nikhil Ghosh), a guru of Naimpally. The emphasis is now strongly on heavy groove-oriented Indojazz fusion, perhaps more Western-style song structures, some konokol and Hindi vocals, with equal Eastern/Western arrangements. The compositions are balanced, with the major harmony dialogues emerging between the sarangi and Tollar's saxophone, which has a sinewy and serpentine sound it and is often used to colour rather than lead. As with their first release "Bhakti",
the group revolves around the solid bass and tabla rhythms, smudgy, swelling basslines oozing out into beat pockets, valleys dispersed among the sonic tabla summits. The lighter side shines through on a few tracks, especially a duet with female guest vocalist Samidha Joglekar, and another Tollar bansuri-led extended piece that also showcases guitarist John Gzowski's imaginative soloing, with unavoidable John McLaughlin similarity and familiarity.
John Mclaughlin Archives
