RUDRESH MAHANTHAPPA

Guggenheim fellow and 2012 Downbeat International Critics Poll Alto Saxophonist of the Year, Rudresh Mahanthappa is one of the most innovative composers and performers in jazz today, fusing the musical culture of his Indian ancestry and jazz with myriad other influences to create a groundbreaking artistic vision. Mahanthappa leads/co-leads several groups including his award winning quartet, the Indo-Pak Coalition with guitarist Rez Abassi (guitar) and Dan Weiss (tabla) and the critically-acclaimed project, Kinsmen, featuring Carnatic saxophone legend, Kadri Golpalnath. His 2010 release, Apex, highlighted the highly influential alto-sax master Bunky Green with Time Out Chicago calling it "a force, blowing with ferocious power, clarity and creativity." For his debut release on ACT Music & Vision, Samdhi, Mahanthappa unveils a electro-acoustic quintet featuring David Gilmore (guitar), Rich Brown (bass), Damion Reid (drums), and "Anand" Anantha Krishnan (Mirdangam / Kanjira), in "an edgy & soulful synthesis of kinetic jazz, Indian influences, and percolating electronica beats & loops" (Anil Prasad, Innerviews).