Worldview
InSound, 2021
8/10
An award winning world jazz outfit from Toronto, Avataar are spearheaded by the saxophonist Sundar Viswanathan, and Worldview brings funk, world and pop influences to their atypical jazz formula that’s quite modern and seems like it could originate anywhere on the planet.
The title track starts the listen with Viswanathan’s flowing sax alongside strategic bass from Justin Gray and playful keys thanks to Todd Pentney, as soothing wordless vocals add a very warm touch, and “Ekkriis Spirito (Reclaimed Spirit)” follows with Michael Occhipinti’s spirited electric guitar and Max Senitt’s agile drumming giving the world music influenced album highlight plenty of grooves.
At the halfway point, “Innocents (12/14/12)” showcases Aaron Lightstone’s well executed oud in the atmospheric 8+ minutes, while “Song Song” offers some of the prettiest singing amid the soulful sax and dreamy instrumentation.
As we move towards the end, “A Safe Space For Children (For All)” is textured with no shortage of rhythm and melody in the busy yet precise landscape, and “Little Kurdi (For Alan Kurdi)” exits the listen with a fusion filled 10 minutes that’s sometimes busy, other times intimate and quite exciting in its atypical nature.
In addition to those listed above, Felicity Williams handles vocals and Ravi Naimpally plays tabla, and collectively they emit a jazz oriented effort where Indian, African and Brazilian traditions are touched upon, and it makes for a very eclectic and original listen that’s capable of being cinematic, is always unpredictable and deserves to be listened to many, many times.
Travels well with: Montréal Jazz Trio- Montréal Jazz Trio; Shannon Gunn- On A Mountain