Record Reviews

JOE HARRIOTT / JOHN MAYER ~ INDO-JAZZ SUITE RHINO 081227960148 (Barcode: 081227960148) ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 1966 Released: 2013 This is a reissue of one of the most groundbreaking and revolutionary British Jazz albums, a debut recording by the ensemble that comprised of Jazz and Classical Indian Music players, which resulted in the birth of Jazz-World Fusion. The Jazz players, led by legendary saxophonist / composer Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist, a pioneer of British Free Jazz and again here of the British World-Jazz Fusion, included also trumpeter Eddie BlairFind albums by this artist (although most sources say Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist, but I have the original LP), pianist Pat SmytheFind albums by this artist, bassist Rick LairdFind albums by this artist (although most sources say Coleridge GoodeFind albums by this artist, but I have the original LP) and drummer Allan GanleyFind albums by this artist. The Indian players included violinist / harpsichord player / composer John MayerFind albums by this artist, sitar player Diwan MotiharFind albums by this artist, tambura player Chandrahas PaigankarFind albums by this artist and tabla player Keshav SatheFind albums by this artist. The double quintet (or tentet) is completed by Classical flautist Chris TaylorFind albums by this artist. Together the ensemble performs four original compositions, all by Mayer. I have already written extensively about this music so I´ll only reiterate that it is completely unique, insanely ahead of its time and heroically pioneering, combining two idioms that seemed to be completely separated from each other. Thanks to Mayer´s superb compositions and his understanding of European music, he was able to amalgamate the Jazz improvisations and the Indian ragas and other traditional forms, despite the disparity in melody, harmony and above all rhythmic patterns between these two idioms. The result is simply divine and honestly, despite many attempts to replicate this amalgam by other musicians over the time, nothing sounds as natural, elegant and aesthetically perfect as this music. It is worth to ponder why this seemingly impossible blend worked out so well; the answer of course requires the understanding of the cultural and social atmosphere that existed in Britain in the mid-1960s, but especially so in London, which became the cultural center of the world with musicians from the British Commonwealth flooding the London scene and bringing with them their own musical traditions: Caribbean, Indian, African and others. All these cultures were embraced and absorbed without reservations of phobias, a natural, voluntary multiculti music being created in the process in Pop, Rock and Jazz. The music on this album and the further recordings by the [AJoe Harriott and John Mayer Double Quintet} are a wonderful example of that brief, but enchanted period of the British Music history. This album is an absolutely essential recorded document of the development of British and later European Jazz, which deserves to be listened to and studied by every music student in the world. This is music of everlasting value and its message of human tolerance, acceptance and unity is a beacon of hope, especially in the Dark Age we are living in now.

Updated: 20/05/2016Posted: 16/05/2016

CD 1 Essential Recommend To A Friend