Music from the REAL East Coast
The Asian stringed instruments sarod and pipa are featured on this album that brings worlds together by Amjad Ali Khan, who plays the sarod along with Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangas, teamed with Wu Man on the pipa and percussionist Shane Shanahan. A Middle East feel takes place when Shanahan’s percussion is involved as the strings sound almost like a Greek bouzouki as everyone jams on “Of Tradition And Heritage” and the team l ilts on “Rhythm of Life”. The strings l ilt on the droning “Stream Of Love” in meditative form, as well as on the Chinese inflected harmonies of “Beyond Borders”, with a contemplative pulse for “Maya”. A silk road of sounds.
Greg Hatza plays a variety of keyboards to team with the hands of tabla man Enayet Hossain on this fragrant collection of originals. On piano, Hatza creates a deep groove with Hossain on the title tune, while giving some soulful blues to “Midnight Mood” and the Joe Sample-ish “Dialogue”. The keyboards get a bit spacey for “Crazy Calcutta Streets” and eerie on “Dark Matter”, with a hint of a Mancini soundtrack taking place on pieces like “Sweet Shop” and “Sultan’s Dream”. Central Asian soul food.