Earth Tone MusicViolet Samudra: Bliss Beyond (US,2005)***°
Guitarist Steve Booke and percussionist Ray Ippolito are both from the Berklee College Of Music. For Steve Booke performing with a live energy seems to have an importance, and he has achieved that effect. He plays skilful guitar (western, flamenco-like and Indian flavoured), often accompanied simultaneously by Brandon Terzic, bringing on the Middle Eastern aspect of the group on oud, saz and cumbus. (He has studied under David Fuzinski, Najib Shaheen and Bassam Saba). The percussion of the group is a combination of Ray’s percussion with the partly relaxed tabla of Muthu Kumar and is often world fusion-like with the obvious Indian touch, because of the tabla. I think Kumar also added some vocal percussion on "Khumba Mela". Besides he also played percussion in various Bollywood films. We also have some slightly eastern flavoured violin by Cooper Ladnier on one track, some moody cello by Dave Eggar, and some female, mostly Indian, vocals by Suman Sridhar.
The music is a perfect combination between east, west and Middle East, with most tracks with more flavour from an Indian Fusion territory. "Bliss Beyond" might be the most Middle Eastern flavoured track, but it has a great blend with the Indian elements to it. "Into the Light" might be one of the most "rock energy" fusion track. A very fine release !!
