On March 8 VIJAY IYER Releases Collaborative TIRTHA Album On ACT Music

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Indian Classical Music, Jazz, Nitin Mitta, Piano, Prasanna, Vijay Iyer

2011 GRAMMY NOMINEE & JJA MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR, VIJAY IYER
Introduces A New Band and Album
“Tirtha” on ACT Music
On March 8, 2011

Featuring Prasanna (guitar) & Nitin Mitta (tabla)

(Left to right Nitin Mitta, Vijay Iyer, Prasanna) Photo credit- Alan Nahigian

vijay iyer – prasanna – nitin mitta // TIRTHA

The Sanskrit word t?rtha (THEER-tha) literally means a ford, or a shallow place in a river that can be easily crossed over. Within a spiritual context, tirtha denotes a holy place near a body of water —somewhere where everyday struggles fall away, and where one passes easily into a deeper and more profound state of being. Aptly, Tirtha is now also the name of a phenomenal trio featuring three powerhouse musicians who at once honor and traverse the streams of tradition. It is also the name of their exciting new album on ACT Music.

Prasanna -][- BE THE CHANGE [Susila Music]

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Guitar, Jazz, Prasanna

If you love jazz fusion, then this project by guitarist Prasanna is absolutely a must for you to grab ASAP! Funny thing, when I listen to records of this caliber I see why those who insist on playing it safe artistically could be missing the point of recording a solo album. In other words, don’t get caught in the rapture copying for example: “Lady Gaga/Kenny G” no pun intended just to make a hit record. With this stunning offering the adventurous guitar antics of Prasanna, he is taking virtuosity into a new dimension! —Rob Young | The Urban Flux

Prasanna - BE THE CHANGE

Prasanna -][- BE THE CHANGE – [Susila Music, 2004]

Considered by many to be one of the most unique guitar virtuosos in the world, Prasanna takes a quantum leap into the future with ‘Be the Change’. Stellar performances from an all star line-up of some of the worlds’ best musicians like multi-Grammy winning Bela Fleck and the Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten, ex-Weather Report bass legend Alphonso Johnson, the dynamic Flecktones saxophonist Jeff Coffin, ex-Frank Zappa drummer Ralph Humphrey, one of LA’s hottest saxophonists Andy Suzuki, the explosive drummer Derico Watson and the versatile vocalist Shalini, complement Prasanna’s dynamic guitars, vocals and strikingly original compositions of rare depth.

New Releases [Jazz] … for the Week of 7/19/2010

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George Brooks, Jazz, New Releases, Prasanna, Steve Smith

Greetings’ jazz aficionados, I’m back with an intricate canvas of what’s -cool- and maybe not so -cool- from a optimistic perspective we don’t usually find in the diet of the chromatic pop music culture. The origin of new music featured each week encompasses various branches of jazz, which exudes a wealth of complex and distinctive styles, insinuating textures, immaculate melodies, and relentless rhythms exalted by the definitive voices of creative artists serves up sounds to quench our immutable thirst for quality music.

Featured Album of the Week

Smith, Brooks & Prasanna

Steve-Smith–George-Brooks–Prasanna -\\- Raga Bop Trio – [Abstract Logix, 2010]

The music of the Raga Bop Trio is an organic blend of jazz, rock, funk, afro-Caribbean and Indian classical music. In this music there is the strong influence of western harmony and melody as well as U.S. style grooves and Euro-jazz atmospheric feels. From the Indian side, George Brooks brings his expertise in the north Indian Hindustani style and Prasanna – being from Chennai, India – is an expert in the south Indian Carnatic style.

I grew up with the U.S. jazz/groove concept and starting in 2002 I’ve incorporated north and south Indian rhythms into my playing. For me, the distinctive quality of the Raga Bop Trio is that the writing and playing employ a seamless amalgamation of all the individual components.