(Also posted as a comment but worthy of wider exposure - Lance). Thanks Steve - quite a night by the sound of it, one of a number of epoch-marking anniversary concerts. Maybe not marking the definitive end of an era, but certainly a reminder of time's passing, albeit in this case with McLaughlin retaining more of his remarkable powers than some of the veterans ambling around Glastonbury's stages this year.
While the big draw here was of course Zakir Hussain and JM, it seems the flame for this Indian strand of "jazz fusion" is being passed on, certainly with this band, and maybe elsewhere. I'm tempted to draw a small comparison with an Indo-fusion venture at the other end of the career journey, Leeds based Yaatri (https://lance-
Yaatri toured UK-wide in May, to small but enthusiastic audiences, but seem to me to occupy an awkward niche fusing "prog", jazz and elements of classical Indian music. Present day (western) audiences seem less open to the Eastern canon than the older "hippy" generation (sorry Steve), and "South Asian heritage" audiences, in the UK at least, perhaps don't connect with the "jazz/prog" thing (cf the recent disappointing turnout for Jazz Orient, https://lance-bebopspokenhere.
We were lucky to catch Yaatri in Leeds with a large(-ish!) crowd who responded rapturously to this power and emotion. The energy was stoked up by the addition of young tabla virtuoso Zuheb Ahmed Khan (flown out from Delhi for the tour) and last minute local recruit Vijay Venkat, a quite remarkable Indian flute player. The effectiveness and emotional power of the merger of east and west surprised me and I think has to be heard live to really "get it". Speaking to Zuheb afterwards, all was revealed, as while his upbringing has had much rigid classical tradition (and incredible hours of practice...) he is also familiar with long "jam sessions" with great improvisational freedom. So, while our ears differentiate between the tonality and palette of the music, the main objectives are the same and compatible.
Hopefully the Shakti reprise will spark off more collaborations, and we will get to access more of these incredible Indian musicians. Chris K
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One of our favourite regular nights has become the Riverside Raga nights at the Sage. The plan is we go for a curry beforehand but it doesn't always work out this way. I remember one (probably pre-covid) in the old Northern Rock Foundation Hall when - mid-piece - the tabla player started routine maint on his instrument and Mrs T turned to me and said 'never again'. We persevered and, following an extraordinary lady sitar player and another with dancing, my much better half has become more enthusiastic than I. Extraordinary musicianship is guaranteed and generally a nice mixed audience.
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