Into The Fire: Vasantha Pravaham

Composer: Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani and Adrian Sherriff
Soloist: Scott Tinkler (Trumpet)
Project: Into The Fire
Download: Vasantha Pravaham

The collaboration of the AAO with the South Indian Karnatic group - the Sruthi Laya Ensemble - began with the arrangement by AAO multi-instrumentalist and composer Adrian Sherriff of an existing composition by its leader, Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani. Strategically, this was a very useful thing to do because Adrian Sherriff demonstrated that the Australian Art Orchestra is immediately different from other jazz groups that have done projects with Indian music; projects which usually take the form of jazz soloists playing along with Indian musicians in a fashion not particularly relevant to either tradition. Sherriff took a piece of South Indian music, and, leaving its form fairly intact, organized it in such a way that it can be played by both groups together. All we have done is break up sections so that some improvisatory business can happen from time to time.

Vasantha Pravaham is included on the ABC Classics CD Into the Fire which can also be purchased via this website.