Prasanna's Carnatic Convergence Concept Produces Potent Panethnic Potion

Phil wishes he was a musician (well, he is one, but he wishes he were a good one) but he's not frustrated by it. He's frustrated with a lot of other aspects of the so-called biz. Therefore, he's excited by independently released jazz.

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Published: October 6, 2003

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AAJ: Any other musicians you'd like to comment on, or whose playing you particularly respect?

P: Too many to list, I guess. I grow everyday in my music only because there are so many great musicians in this world that I am lucky to hear and enjoy everyday.

AAJ: Any musicians you would particularly like to work with that you have not?

P: Again, too many to list. Wayne Shorter, for sure. Steely Dan, for sure. The Jenda drummers from Kerala, Roy Haynes, folk musicians from Tamil Nadu, Chick Corea, Bobby McFerrin, Scofield, Singers from Mali, the Emerson String Quartet ... if only I had my way.

AAJ: Do you have any desire to work in more of a prog or pop vein?

P: Sure! Pop music is infinitely malleable and ductile. There's always room for good music.

AAJ: To wrap up, please tell us your musical plans, or projects in the pipeline, for 2003 and beyond.

P: I have just finished an album, which is trilingual-English, Sanskrit and Swahili. It's a lot of electronica and ambient stuff mixed in with lots of Carnatic music, some African, some Celtic, some drum n'bass and elements of classical music too. It was a lot of fun doing this record. I am now trying to find a good label to release it.

I have filmed an instructional guitar video on applications of carnatic music in Jazz imprvosation. I look forward to editing the footage soon and releasing it. It's a very special project and I think it will be well received by Jazz and guitar aficionados. I also have plans of putting out my compositions in the Jazz/Fusion idiom on a record soon - all the stuff that I have been playing live for many years and other material. Also, I plan to get a book out soon. I may do an orchestral project in Europe next year. There are so many projects in the pipeline- it's going to be exciting!

Website: http://www.guitarprasanna.com

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