Trilok Gurtu - 1993 "Crazy Saints"

Percussionist Trilok Gurtu comes from a long line of respected Indian classical musicians, but he's best known for his genre-blending fusions of world music and jazz. Crazy Saints is one of his most complex and challenging releases to date, enlisting the aid of jazz legends like guitarist Pat Metheny and Joe Zawinul to create a thoroughly modern sound that moves from razor sharp ensemble work to dizzying solos. The most effective songs are those that mine Gurtu's myriad world music influences, including "Manini" and "Blessing in Disguise," both of which are blessed with the haunting vocal ululations of Indian music legend Shobha Gurtu, the drummer's mother. The genteel balladry of "Ballad for 2 Musicians" and the excessive ambient noodling of "The Other Tune" may tax the patience of those with a lower tolerance for modern jazz wankery. But ultimately songs like the title track, which marries blistering beats in quirky time signatures with heavenly vocals and dazzling instrumental interplay, make the album a fine foray into jazz/world fusion.

Rhythm Maestro Trilok Gurtu,Brings us another fine release from his CMP dates.Bringing in Jazz Guitarist Pat Metheny who makes the hair in your neck bop the blues,French Clarinet Cultivater Louis Sclavis,whose distinctive approach towards the clarinet can be clearly heard on "Thillana"(Highly Recommended Track) with another Frenchman Daniel Gayone,giving funkified jazz riffs that dwells on indian raaga on Thillana As well as on other tracks,There are 2 songs here which are higlights from a Famous Jazz Festival where Joe Zawinul brings in his vision to trilok gurtu's every so wonderfull dancing drums!. Truely a fine release,and one of trilok's best releases so far! ,but this cd could be,what the peers describes as "Slow Poison",meaning it takes sometime for you to get the hang of it,once you do..you'll never let it go!

Track listing:

1     Manini     7:06
2     Tillana     4:12
3     Ballad For 2 Musicians     6:08
4     The Other Tune     7:39
5     Blessing In Disguise     9:26
6     Crazy Saints     8:19
7     No Discrimination     3:38

Personnel:

    Drums, Tabla, Voice, Dhol [Dol], Kanjira, Percussion – Trilok Gurtu
    Bass – Marc Bertaux (tracks: 1, 6)
    Bass Clarinet – Louis Sclavis (tracks: 2, 5)
    Cello – Ernst Reijseger (tracks: 2, 5)
    Clarinet – Louis Sclavis (tracks: 2)
    Guitar – Pat Metheny (tracks: 1)
    Guitar Synthesizer – Pat Metheny (tracks: 6)
    Keyboards – Daniel Goyone (tracks: 1, 6)
    Keyboards, Pedalboard [Keyboard Bass] – Joe Zawinul (tracks: 3, 4)
    Piano – Daniel Goyone (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7), Joe Zawinul (tracks: 3)
    Saxophone – Louis Sclavis (tracks: 7)
    Vocoder – Joe Zawinul (tracks: 4)
    Voice – Shobha Gurtu (tracks: 1, 5, 6)