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Editorial Reviews
Review
Stunning ... one of the best recordings of the year from one of
our most exciting artists. --DownBeat
If you want to know where jazz is in 2010 and where it s headed,
Iyer is among the first musicians to hear. --Los Angeles Times
One of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today. --Pitchfork
our most exciting artists. --DownBeat
If you want to know where jazz is in 2010 and where it s headed,
Iyer is among the first musicians to hear. --Los Angeles Times
One of the most interesting and vital young pianists in jazz today. --Pitchfork
Product Description
Twenty-first century global chamber music, eminently
listenable and vibrantly alive, from 2010 Grammy finalist
and year-end list-topper Vijay Iyer! Here, the pianist
introduces his newest project, an exciting and dynamic
trio collaboration with two internationally renowned young
Indian musicians living in the US.
listenable and vibrantly alive, from 2010 Grammy finalist
and year-end list-topper Vijay Iyer! Here, the pianist
introduces his newest project, an exciting and dynamic
trio collaboration with two internationally renowned young
Indian musicians living in the US.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
In keeping with Whitney Balliet's credo about the sound of surprise - the whole album keeps you in a heightened sense of anticipation throughout - both within and across different tunes. I've followed Vijay Iyer since his Bay Area emergence, and Prasanna since forever, from back in Chennai when he would hold college crowds in thrall. The song forms and directions that Iyer and Prasanna choose, are closest to Indian music (particularly Carnatic). All tunes are full of intertwined, complex, independently developing thoughts where you can just as easily focus on one at a time or step back and hear the striking union of these ideas. However, they're unmistakably jazz in the comping choices that Iyer and Prasanna make throughout. Mitta grounds all this with simpatico playing that is in the end, melodic more than anything else - which is the way all Indian mridangam and tabla masters are taught to approach their instruments. There are too many attention grabbing passages throughout - from the polyrhythmic opening of duality, to the odd-meter but very palpable groove of tribal wisdom, and the grandeur of the title tune, as well as the pallavi-influenced elasticity of 'entropy and time'. Prasanna has by now mastered the seemingly impossible art of fitting raga phraseology into very tight harmonic spaces (as evidenced in the head of nearly every tune), while Iyer clearly knows and relishes the rhythmic possibilities of carnatic music in his liberal use of korvais throughout. the best part about all this, is that it sounds utterly, convincingly new and unlike anything i've heard in the recent past. Here's hoping for more from them!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Overview:
The music on Tirtha is quite different from Vijay's previous releases. However, one thing that remains consistent is Vijay's dramatic, dense, and innovative piano playing. On Tirtha, Vijay teams up with Prasanna (guitar) and Nitin Mitta (tabla) to play traditional Indian music. While the music is technically Indian music and not jazz, Vijay playing gives it the feeling of jazz. The album has some similarities to recent Rudresh Mahanthappa releases, Kinsmen and Apti, in that it features a modern jazz star playing Indian music. However, the mood of the album is a bit different. The lack of a horn, plus the all-acoustic band gives the album more of a meditative, trancelike feel to it. It has a very spiritual quality to it. The tabla of Mitta blends perfectly with Vijay's piano, and the snakelike, almost sitar sounding guitar lines of Prasanna. When I first saw the trio lineup I wondered if the sound would be too thin with only 3 musicians. This concern was quickly dispelled within minutes of listening. Vijay has such a full-bodied sound on the piano; I actually think he is best heard in a trio setting.
Song Highlights:
Duality - Right off the bat the album gets off to a great start with duality. This is a fantastic composition by Vijay and the combo of rhythmatic textures of the piano lines and tabla are just riveting. Vijay's solo adds an ultra modern sound that fits perfectly over the traditional Indian music backdrop. Prasanna follows it up with a great meandering guitar solo.
Abundance - The mood on this track is quiet, reflective, and subdued. Prasanna is just magnificent on the guitar throughout it. Prasanna's emotion backed guitar solo just builds and builds. Towards the end it almost sounds like something Pink Floyd would have done, yet it fits in perfectly in the Indian context.
Tribal Wisdom - This song starts with Prasana vocalizing the beats in traditional form (I wish I knew what this was called). After this very traditional beginning the song quickly transforms into something more modern, very upbeat, and also rock like. With a backdrop that might get your head bobbing, Prasana assaults some scales with what sounds like a very modal solo.
A must have for Vijay Iyer fans. Also, I think if you are a fan of the recent collaborations of Rudresh Mahanthappa and Rez Abassi, you should give this a try. While it is different, I'm sure you'll like it.
The music on Tirtha is quite different from Vijay's previous releases. However, one thing that remains consistent is Vijay's dramatic, dense, and innovative piano playing. On Tirtha, Vijay teams up with Prasanna (guitar) and Nitin Mitta (tabla) to play traditional Indian music. While the music is technically Indian music and not jazz, Vijay playing gives it the feeling of jazz. The album has some similarities to recent Rudresh Mahanthappa releases, Kinsmen and Apti, in that it features a modern jazz star playing Indian music. However, the mood of the album is a bit different. The lack of a horn, plus the all-acoustic band gives the album more of a meditative, trancelike feel to it. It has a very spiritual quality to it. The tabla of Mitta blends perfectly with Vijay's piano, and the snakelike, almost sitar sounding guitar lines of Prasanna. When I first saw the trio lineup I wondered if the sound would be too thin with only 3 musicians. This concern was quickly dispelled within minutes of listening. Vijay has such a full-bodied sound on the piano; I actually think he is best heard in a trio setting.
Song Highlights:
Duality - Right off the bat the album gets off to a great start with duality. This is a fantastic composition by Vijay and the combo of rhythmatic textures of the piano lines and tabla are just riveting. Vijay's solo adds an ultra modern sound that fits perfectly over the traditional Indian music backdrop. Prasanna follows it up with a great meandering guitar solo.
Abundance - The mood on this track is quiet, reflective, and subdued. Prasanna is just magnificent on the guitar throughout it. Prasanna's emotion backed guitar solo just builds and builds. Towards the end it almost sounds like something Pink Floyd would have done, yet it fits in perfectly in the Indian context.
Tribal Wisdom - This song starts with Prasana vocalizing the beats in traditional form (I wish I knew what this was called). After this very traditional beginning the song quickly transforms into something more modern, very upbeat, and also rock like. With a backdrop that might get your head bobbing, Prasana assaults some scales with what sounds like a very modal solo.
A must have for Vijay Iyer fans. Also, I think if you are a fan of the recent collaborations of Rudresh Mahanthappa and Rez Abassi, you should give this a try. While it is different, I'm sure you'll like it.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Another great album by Vijay Iyer. But this one is so different from the others. Easier on the ears, but in no way less complex. The combination of three instruments weaving around each other is breathtaking: Prasanna's magical lines (you've never heard a guitar sound this sinuous) and Nitin Mitta's easygoing tabla making them at home with Iyer's pianism.
At several moments you find yourself thinking of Iyer's playing: is this guy really self-taught? The musical ideas are matched to the utmost by the pianistic ability on this meditative but in no way sedate album.
What a wonderful privilege it is to watch this immensely gifted musician continue to develop. Each of his last several albums has been in its own way perfect. This one deserves the widest audience possible: fans of jazz, fans of Indian music, fans of chamber music, fans of world music.
At several moments you find yourself thinking of Iyer's playing: is this guy really self-taught? The musical ideas are matched to the utmost by the pianistic ability on this meditative but in no way sedate album.
What a wonderful privilege it is to watch this immensely gifted musician continue to develop. Each of his last several albums has been in its own way perfect. This one deserves the widest audience possible: fans of jazz, fans of Indian music, fans of chamber music, fans of world music.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Abundance....
Discovered this album through NPR. A clip from "Abundance" was played between segments. Love the interplay between Vijay and Prasanna. Read more
Published 1 month ago by JBlakeslee
4.0 out of 5 stars
I'll miss you "Natural Elements"
heretofore this album, two of my short list recordings have been "My Goals Beyond" and "Natural Elements" by John McLaughlin and Shakti. Read more
Published 9 months ago by PDX-ish guy
5.0 out of 5 stars
IMHO the best jazz\fusion jazz album of the year
I saw this trio live about 1 year ago and have been eagerly awaiting the release of this album.It is a stellar example of mainstream and fusion jazz combined into one album. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Sirsturm
3.0 out of 5 stars
Just not what I expected
I've loved almost everything Vijay Iyer has done....and this is a good album, but it just doesn't entertain as well as previous albums.
Published on April 19, 2011 by Angry Wombat
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best from Vijay Iyer and Prasanna
Two very talented musicians come together to create a fusion of Jazz with Carnatic flavor. The music brings out the talents individually, but it is disapponting in its overall... Read more
Published on March 20, 2011 by Malayappan Shridhar
