Presenting: Hajj – fresh music from the new album ‘My East Is Your West’ by indo-jazz specialist Sarathy Korwar.
Recorded live at Church of Sound in early 2018, Korwar delivers a tune emblematic of the marriage of Indian raga with hypnotic jazz that underpins the album. Early passages of ambience transform into raw improvisation as Korwar’s newly-formed UPAJ Collective bring us a 12-minute epic with a particularly arresting vocal solo halfway through from percussionist BC Manjunath.
Off the back of much success last year with his acclaimed Ninja Tune debut ‘Day to Day’ and collaboration with Shabaka Hutchings and Hieroglyphic Being on A.R.E Project, Korwar releases his debut record on the mighty Gearbox Records that intends to challenge preconceptions of ‘East’ and ‘West’ and reexamine the interaction at which western jazz meets Indian music.
Speaking about the album Sarathy says, “For this album, the musicians play the songs of notable jazzers and Indian classical musicians who have all been interested in this cross-cultural musical exchange in the past. But this needs redefining, as the narrative has moved along considerably since these songs were initially recorded in the 1960s-70s. Although great recordings, many of which are considered classics, their nod to any non-jazz traditions of music today seem tokenistic and express a deep-rooted orientalised view of Indian music and it’s music makers.”
“‘Eastern music’, much like the term ‘African music’ are still ubiquitous and are indicative of how the UK sees, hears and consumes a lot of music that is from afar. This album (and it’s title – My East Is Your West) attempts to question notions of what and where ‘East’ and ‘West’ is, in the disturbingly common and casual use of these terms whilst talking about music and bringing together both jazz and Indian classical music with a shift in the power dynamic.”
At a time where UK jazz is being heralded for its progression, innovation and far-reaching appeal to people from varying backgrounds, ‘My East Is Your West’ is an essential record for exploring cultural and musical diversity in way that will continue to be relevant for years to come.
Sarathy Korwar’s new album is available to pre-order now on 3xLP, CD and digital platforms from Gearbox Records.