Global Fusion
L. Subramaniam, the brother of violinist L. Shankar, has been making musical worlds collide since the 1970s, recording with jazz artists like John Handy and Larry Coryell. OnGlobal Fusionthe pace is set with "Jai Hanuman!", a rousing adaptation of the Balinese "Ramayana Monkey Chant" (a.k.a. "Ketjak") stoked by Indian percussion and Subramaniam's soaring violin. With its ability to go between the notes, the violin is perfectly suited to the microtonalities of Indian and Asian music. Subramaniam duets fluidly withMiya Masaokaplaying the Japanese koto on "Lost Love" and creates an Indo-Chinese jazz on "Blue Lotus," with Jai Bing Chen playing the Chinese violin called theerhu. "Gipsy Trail" starts as a long ragaalap, or introduction, with Kavita Krishnamurti's serene vocal melody, then launches into a slow-burn, Indian-Flamenco dervish section featuring guitarist Jorge Strunz ofStrunz & Farah.Global Fusionshould reestablish Subramaniam as a compelling improviser.--John Diliberto