Vijay Iyer
Tirtha
Release Date: Mar 8, 2011
Genre(s): Jazz, Avant-Garde, Piano Jazz, Jazz Instrument, International, Modern Creative, Progressive Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Structured Improvisation, Indian Subcontinent Traditions, Carnatic, Indian Classical
Record label: Act Music + Vision
Music Critic Score
How the Music Critic Score works
Buy Tirtha from Amazon
Album Review: Tirtha by Vijay Iyer
Excellent, Based on 2 Critics
Based on rating 4/5
With last August's fine album, Solo, Vijay Iyer took a look at the jazz tradition in some radical but recognisable appraisals of Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Tirtha (the word means "crossing") visits his roots as an Indian-American, examined in a trio collaboration with electric guitarist and composer Prasanna and tabla-player Nitin Mitta. But this is no routine Indo-jazz merging of postbop phrasing and Carnatic or Hindustani classical grooves.
Based on rating 8/10
Pianist and composer Vijay Iyer cut five albums in 2010 in various ensemble and solo settings. He was also was nominated for a Grammy for 2009's stellar Historicity. To kick off 2011, Iyer releases the much-anticipated Tirtha project; the debut recording of a new band that came together for the first time in 2007. Tirtha features Iyer on piano, virtuoso Nitin Mitta on tablas, and guitarist-composer Prasanna.
'Tirtha'
is available now