Mainstream piano quartet with an edgy groove. Vijay is a pianist formerly from the Bay Area, and this CD with Savoy is like a well deserved promotion to the big leagues.

Vijay's stuff is melodic in a nontraditional way, lots of tension, lots of energy, but shielded by that contemporary jazz coolness. Even the mellow tracks have a fairly fast beat behind them, with solos that really dig in. His piano solos are thick and tangly, great stuff.

Accessible, but with edgy elements; you can tell Vijay's got some unique ideas on the keyboard. Listen! Play!

SEE ALSO:
- Fieldwork (tough-edged trio featuring Iyer, like track #9 here)
- Rudresh Mahanthappa (sax player; similarly edgy-yet-accessible)
- Iyer & Mike Ladd: "In What Language?" (GREAT spoken-word jazz)

1- Rolling mid/fast
2- Quiet insistent pulse. Intensifies.
3- Fast but low/slinky lines, nice cold intensity
4- Midtempo and spacious. Patient w/fast burbling solos
5- Mid/fast, firey but lush
6- Spry, snappy. Has its quiet/cute parts.
7- Mid/fast, strong, rainy-day feel. Mildly classical.
8- Soft, mellow, but fast. Turns into a sparkling fast piano display.
9- Aggressive piano stabs. Both spiky and smooth, cool effect.
10- John Lennon cover, nicely dramatic and not cloying. Good.