Shweta Jhaveri - Anahita

Although it has been common practice to integrate elements of Indian music into western composition patterns (serious projects of this kind have been undertaken by groups such as Oregon and Between, as well as the saxophonist Charlie Mariano), the vocalist Shweta Jhaveri, who is also a guest lecturer at the Ali Akhbar College, presents us with a revolutionary concept of Indian contemporary music. This six pieces on her album "Anahita" [the luck-bringing name of the goddess of water and fertility] were composed in the traditional north Indian Raga form, but were arranged by Shweta for western instruments (west coast shooting-star Will Bernard on guitar, Bill Douglas on bass, Jim Kassis on drums and Jenny Scheinman on the violin). The result is an extremely unusual album – a real gem of a production – soft, sensual, contemplatory and completely unpretentious.