Record Reviews

JOHN MAYER / INDO-JAZZ FUSIONS ~ INJA FMR 069 ~ UK ~ Jazz-World Fusion Recorded: 2000 Released: 2000 British violinist / composer John MayerFind albums by this artist invented the fusion between Jazz and traditional Indian music in the 1960s, when he and the brilliant saxophonist Joe HarriottFind albums by this artist co-led an ensemble, which recorded a series of groundbreaking albums which fused the two musical genres, being one of the pioneers of Jazz-World Fusion. Unfortunately the ensemble ceased to exist when Harriott died tragically in 1973. From that time on Meyer continued his work mainly in the field of Classical music, but by the end of 1990s he formed a new ensemble called Indo-Jazz FusionsFind albums by this artist and recorded with them a series of superb albums until his death in 2004. The ensemble was a nonet and included Mayer on violin and eight young but extremely talented musicians, with his son Jonathan MayerFind albums by this artist on sitar, Harjinda MataruFind albums by this artist on tabla, James McDowallFind albums by this artist on flute, Carlos Lopez-RealFind albums by this artist on saxophone, David SmithFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Simon ColamFind albums by this artist on piano, David FosterFind albums by this artist on bass and Andrew BrattFind albums by this artist on drums. Mayer wrote most of the fantastic music performed by the ensemble, but the great Kenny WheelerFind albums by this artist composed the title track of this album. The music is a direct continuation of the stuff the Mayer-Harriott group was doing, missing of course Harriott’s virtuosity, but nevertheless still formidable. Mayer’s beautiful melodies are perfect vehicles for the improvised passages and solos by the ensemble’s members and everything falls into place just flawlessly. One can hardly imagine a better cross-pollination between cultures and we should all be grateful to Mayer for pursuing this wonderful dream. Delightful!

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