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Rudresh Mahanthappa: Sounds of Home and Heroes

By Russell Perry | Jazz at 100
July 13, 2021
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In the 13 years since 2008, the alto saxophone award in the annual Jazz Journalists Association awards program has gone to either Rudresh Mahanthappa or Miguel Zenon ten times. Despite having very different sounds and approaches to the saxophone, their creative paths have much in common. Both began recording around the turn of the century. Both have paid homage to major alto heroes —Mahantahappa to Charlie Parker and Zenón to Ornette Coleman. And both have explored the intersection of their cultural roots with jazz—Mahanthappa bringing South-Asian music into his work and Zenón celebrating his Puerto Rican roots—illustrating how jazz is becoming steadily more international. Over the next two programs, we will look at highlights of the last decade in the works of these commanding alto players, starting with Rudresh Mahanthapa in this hour of Jazz at 100 Today!

Playlist

Host Intro 0:00
Rudresh Mahanthappa Quartet "Playing with Stones" from Apex (Pi Recordings) 3:48/li>
Danilo Pérez Quintet "Galactic Panama" from Providencia (Mack Avenue) 13:13
Danilo Pérez -Rudresh Mahanthappa Duo "The Maze: the Beginning" from Providencia (Mack Avenue) 18:16
Danilo Pérez -Rudresh Mahanthappa Duo "The Maze: the End" from Providencia (Mack Avenue) 19:52
Host speaks 21:17
Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet "Bird Calls #1" from Bird Calls (ACT) 25:00
Rudresh Mahanthappa Quintet "Gopuram" from Bird Calls (ACT) 27:49
Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition "Alap" from Agrima (Self-Produced) 35:20
Rudresh Mahanthappa's Indo-Pak Coalition "Can-Did" from Agrima (Self-Produced) 37:39
Host speaks 43:22
Rudresh Mahanthappa Trio "Red Cross" from Hero Trio (Whirlwind Recordings) 45:11
Rudresh Mahanthappa Trio "The Windup" from Hero Trio (Whirlwind Recordings) 51:34
Host Outro 56:11

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About Rudresh Mahanthappa

Instrument: Saxophone, alto

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