“For the final set at their four-night stay at Minneapolis’ Dakota Jazz Club, under the banner of “Larry Coryell’s Bombay Jazz” – Brooks, Coryell, Ronu Majumdar (bansuri flute) and Aditya Kalyanpur (tabla) – proceeded to serve up a sonic concoction of supreme speed, agility and musicality that brought forth equal influence from the busy streets of New York City as it did Bombay, India.

Ordinarily, a bandleader wouldn’t have a “side man” call the shots but when the side man happens to be George Brooks, who has done more for East/West fusion than anyone in the 21st century, it’s a safe assumption Brooks will be steering things to a strong degree. Sure, Coryell has worked with artists from both North and South including Dr. L. Subramaniam as well as subbing for John Mclaughlin in the legendary Shakti, but it is Brooks who has actually studied Hindustani music and taken the time to found countless fusion projects with his Indian brethren.

So, it was fitting that the concert kicked off with Brooks’ original “McCoy,” a tribute to the great McCoy Tyner. The intro was reminiscent of an Indian classical concert with a rubato statement from the melody players before breaking down into a blistering unison line in 11. Immediately, the group brought to mind the legendary (aforementioned) Shakti with its groove in 6/8 time, but it was Coryell and Brooks’ interactions that allowed the group to go further into harmonic jazz territory unlike the original fusion super-group.”

To read the whole review cut and paste the link:

http://www.jambase.com/Articles/21989/Larry-Coryell-and-Bombay-Jazz-03.18-MN

Photo: Pavel Korbut