Jazz Articles about Shez Raja

About Shez Raja

Album Review

With its aggressive combination of jazz, rock, and funk, fusion has remained a contemporary sound in a state of constant reinvention, introducing a fresh audience into the fold, bringing with them futuristic attitudes and perceptions. This electrified mutation of jazz, has seen its share of imitators, yet, when properly performed, remains vital. Shez Raja has taken his power-bass imbued sound well past established parameters, merging diverse inflections of raga from Indo-jazz, into the funk/groove format with intense consequences. Releasing four ...

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Album Review

Shez Raja: Mystic Radikal

Read "Mystic Radikal" reviewed by George Mitton

by George Mitton
July 24, 2010

Shez Raja has described his band's sound as “a real kaleidoscope," an idea reflected in Mystic Radikal's psychedelic cover art. Raja studied Indian classical tabla drumming with virtuoso Sharda Sahai, but now applies these rhythms to the electric bass. On the album there's a fusion of eastern sounds, with synthesizer drones used to reference the music of the Indian subcontinent. But there's also a riotous African influence on songs such as “Carnival of Colour," where violinist Pascal Roggen duels exuberantly ...