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JazzDigger Home > I - Jazz Artists > Vijay Iyer > Item 20
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Black Water
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by Rudresh Mahanthappa
Price:$16.98
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Listener Reviews & Comments
The first thing that strikes the listener is the unique sound Rudresh Mahanthappa gets from his alto sax. Sounding distinctly exotic and somehow clearly Eastern (as in East Indian, not East Coast America), it is a very appealing sound, especially in this way exotic world jazz setting. The second thing one notices is the incredible support and empathy with which the other musicians play, especially Vijay Iyer on piano, who has never sounded better. West-Coast-based drummer, Elliot Humberto Kavee, himself noted for the exotic musical settings in which he plays, is also perfect for this adventurous outing. I wouldn't have thought of François Moutin for the bass chair, but he seems to flawlessly intuit these mysterious musical undertakings. I like to give a guy a chance before I write him off. I almost didn't pick this one up, because I have heard at least two other Mahanthappa discs, and, frankly, they were duds. Black Water is without doubt a quantum leap forward for him. It's as if his concept and sound have suddenly completely gelled. Gone are the chip on the shoulder, the empty virtuosity, the weirdness for weirdness' sake, the daunting yet unapproachable compositions. Instead, we get this fully developed exposition of East meets West, sounding plenty exotic, but also perfectly natural. Sometimes jazz musicians seem to have to go through a period of exploration and experimentation that helps them find their own particular esthetic and voice, but is often quite unlistenable. Dave Douglas is one of those musicians. For these ears, he made plenty of barely listenable discs before he came up with Witness and Freak In. And that clearly is what happened with Mahanthappa as well. His first efforts sounded raw, half-baked, and callow. Not now. He's fully come into his voice. And he's a stunning soloist. Check out "What's a Jazz," the first half of which is an over three minute burning sax solo. Strangely, for such a virtuoso piece, it doesn't strike the listener as either indulgent or over the top. Part of that may have to do with what comes after the sax soloing: some stunning drum-bass interaction that somehow fits entirely with the compositional framework. For me, this is one of the most outstanding jazz recordings I've heard this year, which is saying a lot because there seems to be no shortage of absolutely winning jazz discs in the first third of 2003.
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Black Water
by Rudresh Mahanthappa
Price:$16.98
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