Alto Saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa Part-III
By kamla bhatt • Jul 27th, 2006Category: Bangalore, Diaspora, Entertainment, New York, People
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This is the concluding episode of our conversation with New York-based Jazz musician Rudresh Mahanthappa. In part III Rudresh discusses his collaborations with Vijay Iyer, Kadri Gopalnath and IndoPak music group.
Rudresh talks about the notion of hybridization and how that influenced his music. We hear about the first time he heard Carnatic music and what kind of impact it had on him. “I feel a strong connection with it (Carnatic music),” he says. Listening to Carnatic music is as exciting as listening to John Coltrane says Rudresh.
Rudresh describes his music palette as eclectic and has incorporated Indian music traditions in his music and compositions. He is currently working with Kadri Gopalnath, Vijay Iyer and the IndoPak Jazz band. Rudresh is currently collaborating with Indian saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath on a project titled “Dakshina Ensemble.”
Recently, Rudresh and Vijay Iyer’s first album titled Raw Materials was released by Savoy Jazz. The two musicians have been working together for the past 10 years.
Rudresh has worked as a sideman with jazz musicians such as David Murray, Steve Coleman, Jack DeJohnette, Samir Chatterjee, Von Freeman, Tim Hagans, Fareed Haque, Vijay Iyer, Howard Levy, David Liebman, Greg Osby, and Dr. Lonnie Smith. Rudresh lives with his family in New York.
Kamla Bhatt is the host and producer of an Internet Radio show where listeners can find stories about the new and emerging India and the global Indian community. As a pioneer of 'internet radio' format in India Kamla started her first show News about India, followed by TalkNewsIndia in 2005. In 2006 she premiered her new show: The Kamla Bhatt Show: Life, People and Ideas. 
[...] interview originally ran on July 20, 2006. You might be interested in listening to Part-2 and Part-3 of the interview with [...]