 "Caravan" shows off Sankaran's remarkable vocal range and abilities, though even more fresh and engaging is the cover of "A Night in Tunesia" with unexpected rhythmic changes, scatting, and a cool desert vibe....The band is tight, but what really makes this fusion work is Sankaran's voice. Though classically trained, she has a richer, smokier tone than classical Indian singers, one perfectly suited to autorickshaw's hybrid sound.
Canada. Think about it for a minute. Are you thinking of snow? Lumberjacks? Hockey? Red Green? US residents often have narrow views of other nations, even our closest neighbors. They may have a grain of truth, but they are far from the whole story. Canada is actually a remarkably multicultural nation, and its music constantly reminds one of this. Take autorickshaw. Fronted by Suba Sankaran (vocals, piano, percussion), the group pushes "Indian fusion" in a new direction, blending North and South Indian classical music, funk, and jazz. The song selection is diverse, ranging from the standards "A Night in Tunesia" and "Caravan" to the four-part "Hemavati Suite." "Caravan" shows off Sankaran's remarkable vocal range and abilities, though even more fresh and engaging is the cover of "A Night in Tunesia" with unexpected rhythmic changes, scatting, and a cool desert vibe. Rounding out the track list are originals and reinterpretations of traditional Indian songs. The band is tight, but what really makes this fusion work is Sankaran's voice. Though classically trained, she has a richer, smokier tone than classical Indian singers, one perfectly suited to autorickshaw's hybrid sound. Along with Sankaran are Rich Brown (bass), Ed Hanley (tabla)and Debashis Sinha (percussion).
-Scott Allan Stevens, Earball Media USA |
