Rudresh Mahanthappa @ Jazz Gallery 4/9/11

I had one show in me and this was the winner. It was awesome. This quartet works so well together. I loved them all. I was especially impressed with Moutin on bass, simply because I haven't seen him much and I already knew the others are great.

The listing:
Rudresh Mahanthappa’s GAMAK featuring David Fiuczynsk
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
9:00 & 10:30 p.m.


Rudresh Mahanthappa – Alto Saxophone, David Fiuczynski - Guitar, François Moutin – Bass, Dan Weiss - Drums

Rudresh Mahanthappa unveils his reinvented quartet in presenting the premiere weekend performance of Gamak.

Alto saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa, a Guggenheim Fellow and Down Beat International Critics Poll Winner, has incorporated the culture of his Indian ancestry and fused myriad influences to create a truly groundbreaking artistic vision. We're proud to say that he's played a major role in the Gallery's programming for years, notably in duo and quartet formats with acclaimed pianist/composer Vijay Iyer and with his own groups (Black Water, Mother Tongue, Codebook). He's made waves recently with fellow altoists Bunky Green (Apex) and Steve Lehman (Dual Identity), with the Indo-Pak Coalition trio (Apti) and also with Carnatic saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath (the universally acclaimed 2008 Pi release Kinsmen). As the New York Times has put it, Rudresh has "a tone like iron and charges from 0 to 80 in about four seconds."


This week Rudresh returns to the quartet setting with a new group called Gamak. The major transformation is the shift from piano to electric guitar with the inclusion of the great David Fiuczynski, Rudresh's partner in crime in Jack DeJohnette's current group. David's unparalleled versatility and virtuosity along with his unique abilities to convey alternate tunings and microtonal ornamentation elevate the possibilities of this ensemble. Gamak will reach great heights in presenting a contemporary American music which synthesizes Western and Non-Western musical forms and concepts.


Gamak was created with support from Chamber Music America's New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Foundation. Gamak is a sponsored Project of Artspire, a Program of the New York Foundation for the arts with funding provided by New York State Council on the Arts.