Jonas Hellborg / Mattias "IA" Eklundh / Ranjit Barot - Art Metal: The Jazz Raj (2014)

This is pretty fantastic. Two L-O-N-G tracks featuring a great bassist and percussionist providing the support for the great guitar soloing and ensemble work. Based on Indian ragas, but certainly not 'strictly' Indian ragas, this is a psychedelic East/West fusion delight. Highly recommended!

"The Jazz Raj is a Jonas Hellborg trio recording continuing his collaboration with guitarist Mattias 'IA' Eklundh and introducing drummer Ranjit Barot. The music is seamlessly bonding Western and Indian improvised music while avoiding the stylistic cliches that are so often the pitfalls of this type of music. The Jazz Raj continues the tradition of the bass/drums/guitar trios that Hellborg has been fronting for more than 2 decades featuring wonderful musicians such as Shawn Lane, Buckethead, Michael Shrieve and Jeff Sipe. The tracks on the record are two half hour extended compositions with sections interrelated thematically using western interpretation of Indian Ragas. It is a genre defying work, it is Jazz Metal and Indian music but primarily music for the pleasure of listening."

Tracklist:

1. The Swami on Park Street
2. Bacchic Frenzy