Dewan Motihar Trio, Irene Schweizer Trio, Manfred Schoof, Barney Wilen - Jazz Meets India (2016) [Hi-Res]

This 1967 release, another exploratory J.E. Berendt production, combines a classical Indian trio of sitar, tambura, and tabla with jazz piano trio and two horns striding in between. Sitar player Dewan Motihar leads the Indian trio. A star on All-India Radio, Motihar journeyed to London where he worked on the sound tracks to the Beatle’s “Help”, and with Herbie Hancock on Antonioni’s iconic film “Blow Up”. The Swiss pianist Irene Schweizer has been one of the top European players for years. The two groups remain true to their respective ethos playing off what they have in common rather than attempting some sort of ethno mish-mash. The three pieces are originals, all based on ragas, classical Indian scales each of which are based on a particular mood, occasion, time of day, year, etc. Sun Love is based on a raga similar to a Western C minor scale. In a combination of modal and free playing, trumpeter Manfred Schoof plays beautifully off the raga. Yaad is a North Indian word signifying lovers forever separated. One can sense the sadness as the soprano sax blends with Motihar’s vocals. On Brigach and Ganges, Schoof employs the Bhimplani raga, one of the oldest in classical Indian music, going back some 1000 years. Schoof’s and Motihar’s cohesion on this modal beauty is impressive. Critic K. H. Ruppel had it right: “…improvisational inspiration…a chamber symposium of ancient Eastern and modern Western music.”

Manfred Schoof, cornet, trumpet
Irene Schweizer, piano
Dewan Motihar, sitar, vocals
Keshay Sathe, tabla
Kusum Thakur, tambura
Barney Wilen, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Uli Trepte, bass
Mani Neumeier, drums

Recorded October 23rd, 1967 in Saba Tonstudio, Villingen, Schwarzwald in Germany
Engineered by Rolf Donner
Produced by Joachim Ernst Berendt

Digitally remastered