Joe Harriott John Mayer Double Quintet Jazz Modes - Indo Jazz Fusions Jazz At Jazz Ltd

Review by Jeremy Saylor

The Indo Jazz Fusions Jazz At Jazz Ltd album by Joe Harriott John Mayer Double Quintet Jazz Modes is a mesmerizing blend of jazz and Indian classical music. The album, released in 1966, features some of the finest jazz musicians of that era, including saxophonist Joe Harriott, trumpeter John Mayer, and pianist Pat Smythe.

The album opens with the track "Jaipur," which sets the tone for the entire album. The piece begins with a traditional Indian raga melody played on the sitar, followed by a jazz improvisation by Harriott and Mayer. The fusion of the two genres is seamless, and the musicians' virtuosity is on full display.

Another standout track on the album is "Orient," which features a haunting melody played on the clarinet by Harriott. The piece gradually builds in intensity, with each musician taking turns to improvise over the chord changes.

Summary by Jeremy Saylor

Indo Jazz Fusions Jazz At Jazz Ltd is a groundbreaking album that paved the way for future collaborations between jazz and world music. The musicianship displayed on the album is exceptional, and the fusion of two distinct musical traditions is executed with finesse.