Orient Express

I. Alice Coltrane. (21:12 min)
Alice’s interest in spirituality and Eastern philosophy runs like a thread through all her work. In 1975, she founded an Indian community in the hills of California. Although she no longer played jazz, she continued to make music. On this 2017 album, Alice Coltrane interprets the religious music of India: stirring chants whose rhythm is determined by enthusiastic hand clapping. It is infectious music in which an echo of her youth can sometimes be heard in the gospel choir.
CD. The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda : World spirituality classics ; vol.1 – Alice Coltrane. LABEL: Luaka Bop Records (2017), code: 6 80899 008723. VIDEO

II. Panjabi MC. (20:38 min)
The British-born Panjabi MC scored an instant hit. It goes without saying that the album is full of Bollywood influences. Undisturbed, rattling tablas, mysteriously floating sitar parts, and a loud, screaming Panjabi MC form the core ingredients of this album. Although the focus is on the Asian underground, Panjabi MC occasionally shows that he can also handle hip-hop. Hopefully, Panjabi MC has opened the door for the enormous amount of Indian talent behind it eager to come through.
CD. The album – Panjabi MC.
LABEL: Dharma Records (2003), code: DHARMACD1. VIDEO

III. Trilok Gurtu. (17:35 min)
Trilok Gurtu (Bombay 1951) is an Indian percussionist, singer and composer, whose music transcends the boundaries of Indian music, jazz fusion, world music and other genres. He has released his own albums but has also collaborated with many other musicians. The album Mirror is a fascinating mix of classical Indian music, western jazz, funk and influences from Africa, the Balkans and Brazil. Together with the Arke String Quartet he creates a musical mosaic of remarkable depth and expressiveness.
CD. Mirror – Trilok Gurtu + Arke String Quartet.
LABEL: Jazzline (2025), code: 31456//LJ 004-2. VIDEO

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