Album Notes

When inspiration comes, one must be ready for it, and willing to be led where it takes you. Most of this album was recorded in the summer of 2006. The idea for this recording project and been on the table for a few years, and when the time was right, the music presented itself to bassist Robert Troy Cole of JAAFAR. “ I wanted to take the bass to another place where it is not commonly found”. “MEDIATIONS ON BASS” presents the music of JAAFAR as a new and insightful journey where music and the spirit walk hand in hand.

“Bass-scapes” is an atmospheric / ambient / soundscaping with a heavy lean on eastern themes (Arabic & Indian). If you are familiar with Robert Fripp and the type of soundscapes / Frippertronics he creates, this is close to what JAAFAR tries to achieve. It is an incorporation of styles inspired by other groundbreaking artists such as Jonas Hellborg, John Mclaughlin / Shakti, Robert Fripp, and ideas stemming from Arabic and Indian music and mythology, and the writings and philosophy of Joseph Campbell.

JAAFAR is a Middle Eastern jazz Arabic funk fusion ensemble, but when performing solo, JAAFAR is Troy Cole, using a 6 string bass, and a 4 string acoustic bass, with the use of a loop machine and the courage to explore the “outer reaches of inner space”.

Troy Cole has performed as JAAFAR at many festivals over the years since its creation in 2002, and performs in Cairo Egypt on a regular basis.