May 11, 2012

Paal Nilssen-Love, Mesele Asmamaw, Mats Gustafsson

Baro 101
Terp Records AIS-19

David Sait

History Ship

Apprise Records AP-05

Rudresh Mahanthappa

Samdhi

ACT Music ACT 9513-2

Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Ensemble

Inana

PI Pi41

Something in the Air: Provocative Ethnic Blends

By Ken Waxman

Product of musical miscegenation, jazz has always been most welcome to sound influences. Meanwhile much of so-called ethnic music, especially from non-Western countries, features some variants of improvisation. Blending the freedom of jazz with aleatory additions from other cultures produces provocative sounds as these CDs attest. Yet all are noteworthy because, rather than using either music as mere exotica or rhythmic overlay, each is performed with the same respect. MORE