This is what jazz is all about.
L. Barden | Oakland, CA United States | 12/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is what jazz is all about---great musicians coming together, challenging each other musically, pushing each other to new heights of ensemble performance, and leaving a grateful fan like me with a recording like this.In this case, four accomplished San Francisco Bay Area instrumentalists accompany a vocalist trained the north Indian classical tradition. Additionally, each song is composed in a rag format, and is based on a 16-beat rhythm, and I've just told you everything I know about the rag format.The first track, "Invocation," is a perfect introduction to Jhaveri's vocal prowess. She begins softly, then her voice soars with sudden assured power, then effortlessly slips into a more quiet, delicate, slightly breathy tone, while maintaining remarkable precision in intonation and melody. She's only singing the syllable "ah" to start the song, but the sheer beauty of her voice is riveting.The second track, "To A Beloved," is the one that completely blew me away and made me fall in love with this record. The instrumental introduction is very strong---too strong, in my opinion, for a jazz vocal piece. But Jhaveri's voice, with its astounding power and grace, is more than up to the task. She truly has an amazing instrument.Her voice is so powerful I can think of no other comparable vocalist. She reminds me more of a jazz horn player. In fact, I would say that if Miles Davis had ever made an Indian rag record, it would sound something like this record. Miles had the ability to play soft and gentle, and then suddenly take your breath away with his power. Shweta Jhaveri has the same ability, and it is perfectly showcased on this record."Anahita" is a modern jazz masterpiece."
Smooth jazz in Jaipur
Amaranth | Northern California | 06/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very relaxing album--it's what smooth jazz should be,and more.Shweta Jhaveri adeptly combines classical Indian singing with jazz worth lounging to.This album is best combined with other Indian fusion albums (Putumayo's "Asian Lounge",Ana Rita Simonka's "Bossa Nova Delhi",DJ Cheb I Sabbah's "Shri Durga"&"Krishna Lila")
Highlights-
1)To a Beloved.MOST of this track is on Putumayo's sadly discontinued "Gardens of Eden" compilation.This meditative&atmospheric.
2)Amidst a Mist-Mysterious,flowing.Since the jazz musicians are from San Francisco,it is fitting this song makes one think of the Bay Area fog.
3)To the Spring-A joyful,energetic piece.
4)A nosy dawn-Very touching&beautiful,despite the title's strangeness.
This is a beautiful album for contemplation,meditation,relaxation."