George Brooks Music
Elements
Soothing and seductive, this latest offering from George Brooks’ Earth Brother Music label features the virtuoso harp of Gwyneth Wentink, Kala Ramnath’s haunting vocals and violin and Brooks’ sensual saxophone. Elements offers original compositions and contemporary settings of Indian ragas, unifying the aesthetics of European classical, Indian classical and American jazz traditions.
Spirit and Spice
“Spirit and Spice” opens with the infectious “Monsoon Blues,” combining a funky James Brown guitar chop and pumping bass, with complex unison melodies that draw on the rhythmic language of South India. All of the compositions on “Spirit and Spice” are Brooks’ originals, exploring the realm where jazz and Indian classical music intersect.
Steve Smith, George Brooks and Prasanna
George Brooks, Steve Smith and south Indian guitar phenomenon Prasanna release their debut album, Raga Bop Trio on the Abstract Logix music label.
The Raga Bop Trio play a fluidly inventive music that bravely and insightfully combines improvisational traditions from around the world. Drawing upon the urgency and harmonic density of jazz, the rhythmic complexity and melodic richness of classical Indian music (encompassing both Northern and Southern traditions), and a range of pan-African grooves, the uniquely-constructed trio’s self-titled debut album is simultaneously groundbreaking and refreshingly listenable, capturing three masters engaging in a conversation with each other and the great range of their inspirations.
Summit
“Summit” is the first CD released by this all-star group, featuring Steve Smith, Zakir Hussain, Fareed Haque, Kai Eckhardt. “…what makes Summit so captivating is Brooks’ huge, wonderfully dense but pliable sound. Summit’s percussion section is a dream team featuring powerhouse jazz drummer Steve Smith and tabla master Zakir Hussain, the son of legendary tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha.”
Night Spinner
“Bristling with east meets west polytonality and rhythmic intrigue and tinged with a Trane-like spirituality… Blowing gorgeous tones and fluidly unraveling complex ideas…(Brooks) succeeds to a startling and almost rapturous degree.” San Francisco Bay Guardian
Lasting Impression
“The music on this recording has blown me away. Brooks plays the saxophone with a tone, rhythmic concept and harmonic concept that sounds totally new to my ears. The result is one of the most exciting saxophone records I have ever heard.” Saxophone Journal
Kirwani Quartet
Kirwani Quartet – Recorded in 2005 live at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel as a benefit for the American India Foundation, featuring Hariprasad Chaurasia, George Brooks, Gwyneth Wentink and Vijay Ghate.
Music Without Boundaries
The musical textures which emerge from the ghatam (a clay pot) under T.H. ‘Vikku’ Vinayakam’s virtuosic hands are breathtaking, and the meditative and flowing rivulets of notes which George Brooks coaxes from the saxophone are pure delight. Larry Coryell’s guitar seems at times beguiled by the East, with exquisite, softly contoured lines.
Drum Nation, Volume One
Drum Nation Volume 1 features the Worldís Greatest Drummers performing with ensembles or solo. Terry Bozzio; Bill Bruford; Steve Smith and Zakir Hussain; Chad Wackerman; Stanton Moore; Simon Phillips; Josh Freese; Rod Morgenstein; Tim Alexander and Brain; Marco Minnemann; Stephen Perkins and Brooks Wackerman.
