Tirtha

VIJAY IYER / PRASANNA / NITIN MITTA: Tirtha
ACT Music, 2011

MODERN JAZZ – Piano star Vijay Iyer joins up with an Indian guitarist and tabla player in this striking trio. But while they have a shared heritage and elements of traditional Indian music are prominent throughout, this is more about the collaboration of three bold individuals than a fusion of styles. Mitta’s restless tabla provides a fluid underpinning to Iyer’s deep, hard-edged piano and Prasanna’s mercurial guitar. There’s a lot going on.
Note: title is pronounced “THEER-tha”

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6

1. 5:59 – dark, jabbing patterns; piano is all flashing steel; veers into sinuous solos
2. 11:06 – striding: vocal percussion, stony piano, quivering guitar, hot tabla solo
3. 7:04 – steadily flowing: really nice guitar rides the rapids as pace accelerates
4. 7:46 – contemplative movement, a very rich sound: cerebral solos, vocal at end
5. 6:38 – gently surging spiral: guitar solo ponders, piano reaches out, steady tabla
6. 2:10 – stream of quick notes over a firm, striding foundation; trio keeps it tight
7. 5:43 – solo guitar sets up lopsided trio stroll: piano & guitar at oblique angles
8. 6:09 – relaxed pace, piano has a melancholy touch, nice interplay with guitar
9. 7:58 – based on Carnatic raga: lilting melody with bright touches, supple rhythm

[ Fo ] 03/13/11