JAFFNA: Mandala

Jaffna

Mandala

© 2003 Jaffnoise music

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Original acoustic music rooted in the Indian and Middle Eastern backgrounds of its members, who have worked for over a decade in creating their own universe of music where oud, guitar, tabla, and dumbek can live together, argue, eat and stay good friends.

notes

JAFFNA features Roger Mgrdichian (oud, saz, cumbus), Raji Malik (guitar, sarod), Branavan Ganesan (tabla, kanjira), and Joe Tayoun (dumbek, riq, cajon). The easy description of their music points to the geographical heritage of the musicians, but that's really just a starting point. Along with the strong Mid-East and Indian flavor come unmistakable flamenco, rock, Balkan and jazz influences, the result of jamming in and around the vibrant Philadelphia world music scene of the 1990s.

Dynamic shifts in tonalities, textures and time signatures characterize many of their songs, which easily betray their mellower introductions. Keep in mind, these compositions can be quite lengthy, so the sound samples available here only hint at the intensity to follow.

This is music made by four friends who have almost as much history playing together as they do playing apart. Each with their own strong musical identities and personalities, the members of Jaffna have relied on their instincts to make music together, and have won recognition for making this fusion sound so natural and timeless.

While all the members stay active in a variety of musical endeavors, Jaffna remains the most intense and rewarding project any of them have been involved with.

reviews

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  • WOW! You Want To Move To This CD!
    author: Norma Dawn

    Wonderful music!! I don't know how anyone could sit to listen to this without wanting their bodies to move as well!! Intense, energetic, wonderful instrumentals, and great vocals. I was surprised and thrilled when I received this CD... it was even better than I had originally thought it would be before I purchased it! Thank you members of Jaffna!! *smile*

  • WOW!
    author: farah

    All I can say is WOW! this is the best world fusion cd I've ever heard. These fantastic musicians have created an amazing collection of songs that mystically fit all moods and seasons. This is the cd I run to when I need to find sanctuary after a stressful day.

  • You will love this CD
    author: Redmond Joseph

    I just saw these guys perform in Philadelphia where I got this disc. I thought they blew me away live, but the CD was something else. I pretty much have to stop whatever I'm doing when this CD kicks in - it's possible to listen casually to it, but you won't want to. I was really surprised by the two duets (that they didn't perform live) which feature 'ud/dumbek and guitar/tabla. Both really delicate pieces that express the two extremes of the Arabic and Asian influences at work here. Other people have tried this kind of thing before, but these guys nailed it. Really beautiful music that needs to be heard...by everybody! (I hope they play out more in the future. Don't miss them)

  • Intense high energy world fusion
    author: Albert Peterson

    From the first song I was hooked. This music has such a wide dynamic range, from high intensity to meditative beauty. This is some of the best world fusion music out there. It is true that the clips only hint at the quality music that follows. Definitely worth having the whole CD.

  • Intense high energy world fusion
    author: Albert Peterson

    From the first song I was hooked. This music has such a wide dynamic range, from high intensity to meditative beauty. This is some of the best world fusion music out there. It is true that the clips only hint at the quality music that follows. Definitely worth having the whole CD.

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