KALI'S SON (FEATURING SELVAGANESH AND NILADRI KUMAR)

For quite some time now Jonas Hellborg has been one of the great ambassadors of Indo Jazz Fusion. With both John McLaughlin, and Shawn Lane he has produced some of the best of the genre and this album, "Kali's Son", is another masterpiece. Once again Hellborg combines amazing speed and an impeccable sense of rhythm, with beautiful tone and a lyrical quality to create a unique and compelling voice. His acoustic bass guitar is again a delight to hear. Capturing the tone of an electric bass, a fretless, and an upright in one instrument, Hellborg is able to slide effortlessly between styles to play funk, jazz, rock, and Indian classical with equal facility.

As with other Hellborg projects, "Kali's Son" showcases the talent of all the players involved. In this case the album is graced with the virtuoso playing of sitar master Niladri Kumar who performs on both conventional sitar and the electric Zitar - a five stringed hybrid of sitar and electric guitar. The son and student of sitar master Pandit Kartick Kumar, Niladri was a child prodigy who wanted to explore different forms of music. The result is spectacular.

Once again, Hellborg is joined by percussionist Selvaganesh who's skill with the Kanjeera is astonishing to say the least. The Kanjeera is a small, single head frame drum similar to a tambourine with a single pair of cymbles. The lizard skin head is moistened with water and it produces a tone ranging from a low bass drum like thump to a high pop. By flexing the head with his finger tips, Selvaganesh creats pitch bends and glissandi that are beautifully expressive and, combined with his incredible speed and rhythmic sense, fill the music as effectively as an entire drum set.

The compositions are beautiful and complex, the improvisation is outstanding, the unique combination of instruments is fresh, and the overall skill of each player is undeniable. The production value on the album is excellent as well. Every nuance of the playing can be heard in all it's glory.

If you are a fan of guitar and bass shredding, This album will knock you out. If you are drummer or percussionist, this album will knock you out. If you love fusion or progressive rock, this album will knock you out. If you love World Music, this album will knock you out. Without a doubt "Kali's Son" gets a five star review.