New Moon
Greenleaf, 2024
9/10
A well thought out record that touches on the inspiration of ancestors, family and tradition, the Arun Ramamurthy Trio pens songs that surround our journey as multicultural beings with these 6 rich selections.
The dynamic and intricate “Walk As One” starts the listen with Ramamurthy’s distinct violin alongside Gupta’s thumping drums, as much culture enters the cautious yet adventurous climate, and “Bangalore To Brooklyn” follows with strong attention to mood via the tense strings, agile drumming and Banks’ well timed electric bass.
The middle track belongs to “Aaji”, where intimacy and beauty populates the 9+ minutes, while “Mirrors” uses bouncy bass and an uplifting collaboration that guides the album highlight.
The final track is just as graceful, as “Sri Valli” embraces grooves, style and timeless jazz qualities.
A highly technical effort that pairs Indian classical sounds with American jazz nods, the trio possess a wealth of talent and each track here is packed with intrigue and enlightenment.
Travels well with: Moria Smiley- The Rhizome Project; Les Arrivants- Towards The Light