Namaskar Trio by Sameer Gupta
This album is a glimpse into the process behind the album 'Namaskar' which I released on Motema Music in 2010. The concept was to reinterpret songs from the popular Raga song book, which was exemplified in the Golden Era of Bollywood, through a modern jazz lens. It took years of research with me and the phenomenal Marc Cary to find a space where we can have dialogue in a language that captures the sounds of Jazz and the sound of Indian Classical Ragas. This album captures the true dynamic power of that dialogue.
Some of the songs that are more directly inspired by Indian Classical film music of the Golden Era of Bollywood are:
Love's Lying Story (Has Me Crying) which gives a nod to the classic 'Mohabbat Ki Joothi Kahani' made popular in the film 'Mughal-e-Azam'. The song 'No Fear If Loved' is inspired by 'Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya' also in the same film.
'My Night's Sleep' is a song made famous by the incredible Ghazal singing duo, Jagdish and Chitra Singh. The original song title 'Raat bhi, Neend bhi, Kahani bhi' is not from a movie, but captures the magic of Raga can lift popular music to the heights of expression.
The songs Attachment and Taiwa are both songs I've released on other albums, but I do find this Trio setting with Rashaan Carter on bass and Marc Cary on keyboards to carry a fire that is unique to this group's interaction.
Lastly, I'd like to acknowledge the Trenton International Jazz and Blues Festival. A festival that went bankrupt in its first year and didn't pay us or many many of the other projects that performed in September of 2010. With this release, I hope to continue my goal of turning the negative into a positive by bringing this album to you all and hopefully making some $ ten years later!
I hope you enjoy this release!
Sincerely
Sameer Gupta
Tracklist
| 1. | Love's Lying Story (Has Me Crying) | 6:58 |
| 2. | Jangle | 8:30 |
| 3. | My Night's Sleep is Also a Life Story | 7:24 |
| 4. | No Fear If Loved | 5:38 |
| 5. | Taiwa | 6:43 |
| 6. | Taiwa (alt take) | 6:24 |
| 7. | Attachment | 5:51 |
| 8. | Attachment (alt take) | 7:55 |
| 9. | Appointment in Ghana | 15:06 |
Credits
Sameer Gupta - Drumset and Tabla
Marc Cary - Keyboards
Rashaan Carter - Bass
Album Art - Kundan Baidwan
Recorded Live at Trenton International Jazz and Blues Festival September 18, 2010
License
All rights reserved.Recommendations
Four Directions (Deluxe Edition)by Marc Cary Focus Trio
Coltrane Raga Tribute EP - Ogunde & Afrindicaby Brooklyn Raga Massive
Aphrokubist Improvisations VOL. 9by Broun Fellinis
Promisesby Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra
Universal Beingsby Makaya McCraven
Deepak Verberaby Botany
Sameer Gupta is known as one of the few percussionists simultaneously representing the traditions of American jazz on drum set and Indian classical music on tabla. By combining traditional and modern improvisational styles drawing from his Indian heritage and American roots, Gupta has already established himself as an original musical voice in jazz, world, and fusion music.