Talking Hands
Aimrec, 2022
8/10
The exceptional musicians Greg Hatza (keyboards) and Enayet Hossain (tabla) bring their inimitable skills to this world music meets jazz fusion listen that’s never short on melody, chemistry and very meticulous interaction between the pair.
The title track opens the listen with Hossain’s lively tabla acrobatics amid Hatza’s firm and melodic keys for the very unique jazz fusion climate, and “Crazy Calcutta Streets” follows with a glowing cinematic appeal, where Hatza’s buzzing prowess is met with rhythmic tabla playing.
The middle tracks don’t disappoint either, where the swift tabla playing of “Dark Matter” almost seems mechanical in its precision, while “Midnight Mood” spends 8 minutes mesmerizing us with its grooves and frisky soulfulness that’s just so stylish.
“The Conversation” and “Dialogue” exit the listen, where the former manipulates tone and mood with much attention to detail in a hypnotic fashion, and the latter brings us 10 minutes of careful exploration, as both artists showcase their respective strengths in a Western meets Eastern dynamic that’s quite exciting.
Hatza and Hossain are both members of the esteemed outfit Melodic Intersect, and they bring that experience to this cross-cultural experience that few other could replicate, and that resonates with a global warmth that’s very appreciated in these divided times.
Travels well with: Shujaat Khan/Katayoun Goudarzi- This Pale; Wesli- Rapadou Kreyol