Mondo Rama

Amazon.com
Jai Uttal has been immersed in Indian music for decades. He traveled with the Bauls of Bengal, singing their chants, and he plays the dotar, a baby brother to the Indian sarod, which he studied with Ali Akbar Khan. His 1991 album, Footprints, essayed a heady, mostly instrumental world fusion full of atmosphere and improvisation, including a guest appearance from jazz trumpeter Don Cherry. For the most part, each succeeding album has found Uttal moving in the pop direction, emphasizing his vocals, in which he alternates emotional ballads in English and adaptations of the chants.

Mondo Rama continues the trend as Uttal rummages through the bazaar of global elements to enliven his songs, turning sacred chant into pop. From the opening "Narayama," with its vaguely calypso groove, soul choruses, and Beatles-esque guitars, to the turntable effects of "Sri Krishna," Uttal mixes raga-rock nostalgia with just a touch of ethno-techno ambience. At times, however, he falls short of similar fusions by singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan, and Sheila Chandra. When his spiritual chants get undercut, rather than reinforced, by all the competing elements, his hymns can become trivialized, and the pop sounds can become forced and even clichéd. --John Diliberto

Mondo Rama,Jai Uttal,Jai Uttal,Narada,Indian Diaspora,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Beat,World Music

Average customer rating: I like Jai's music but was disappointed with Mondo Rama Jai!! Jai Wow! Where did this guy come from? Great fusion of Indian and Jazz Influences Joy Abounds Through Music

Mondo Rama Jai Uttal , and Jai Uttal Manufacturer: Narada ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Kirtan: The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant Music for Yoga and Other Joys Beggars and Saints Loveland: Music For Dreaming And Awakening Monkey ASIN: B00005Y1JO Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

1. Narayana
2. Shri Krishna
3. Tomorrow Never Knows
4. Exile
5. shalom
6. The Whisper Stream
7. Bom Bolenath
8. Mood X
9. Kali Mata
10. Hot Button
11. Valencia Gardens

Amazon.com

Jai Uttal has been immersed in Indian music for decades. He traveled with the Bauls of Bengal, singing their chants, and he plays the dotar, a baby brother to the Indian sarod, which he studied with Ali Akbar Khan. His 1991 album, Footprints, essayed a heady, mostly instrumental world fusion full of atmosphere and improvisation, including a guest appearance from jazz trumpeter Don Cherry. For the most part, each succeeding album has found Uttal moving in the pop direction, emphasizing his vocals, in which he alternates emotional ballads in English and adaptations of the chants.

Mondo Rama continues the trend as Uttal rummages through the bazaar of global elements to enliven his songs, turning sacred chant into pop. From the opening "Narayama," with its vaguely calypso groove, soul choruses, and Beatles-esque guitars, to the turntable effects of "Sri Krishna," Uttal mixes raga-rock nostalgia with just a touch of ethno-techno ambience. At times, however, he falls short of similar fusions by singers like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan, and Sheila Chandra. When his spiritual chants get undercut, rather than reinforced, by all the competing elements, his hymns can become trivialized, and the pop sounds can become forced and even clichéd. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

I like Jai's music but was disappointed with Mondo Rama.......2003-12-24

I have quite a collection of Indian classical and fusion music and have been a devotional singer for years. I also love Miles and SRV. I really love Jai's/Pagan Love Orchestra's muted trumpet/Miles Davis/devotional sound from parts of his first two realeases and think he is the best musician in the devotional genre. I understand what Jai is doing with Mondo Rama, but the result in my opinion doesn't work well. A perfect example is the Beatle's "Tomorrow Never Knows", one of my favorites. I was wondering when someone was going to cover this song, but was disappointed with Jai's attempt; it fell flat. Though I love both, I find the electric guitars and "phychedelic" sound very detracting from the devotional feel of his music. I think Jai needs a really good producer to show what he is capable of doing. He has all the components, but isn't really bringing them together as well as he could.

Jai!! Jai.......2003-06-05

Namas te

This album was nominated for a Grammy in 2003 and I feel should have won!!

If you are familiar with Jai and the Pagan Love Orchestra you probably just buy his albums as they are released because you know how great he is!!!

If you are new to Jai's style of devotional music this is a great album to start with. This one is more modern. It is the perfect melding of rock/jazz style and classical Bhakti lyrics.

I listen to this album over and over again!!

Om ah hum

Wow! Where did this guy come from?.......2002-03-24

This CD blows my mind! I'm new to Jai Uttal and the Pagan Love Orchestra, but I'm an instant convert. Every song moves me in a different way. I'm no music critic and I dont know how to write a review, but I just LOVE this disc. Funk, jazz, Indian, Brazilian, Hebrew, folk, and just plain wierd.......but all from the heart. And it all goes straight to my heart.
Super cool!

Great fusion of Indian and Jazz Influences.......2002-03-22

I really enjoy this album. Jai uses a great mix of Indian, American pop and jazz with interesting musical instruments and arrangements. Track EXILE is worthy of a top 10 spot.

Joy Abounds Through Music.......2002-03-21

Hey! You have to check this new CD out!! A mixture of sounds that spane the entire music world. Beautiful compositions that move the soul. Jai has done it again. His voice is strong and his instrumental compositions impeccable. With Track 1, "Narayana", to be flown around the world to Brazil with the sassy, passionate sounds of the tropics and the sun beating down; the waves crashing in the distance with love on our minds. Then to go into the club to dance to the slammin' rhythms on Track 2, "Shri Krishna".
At times, like in Track 8,"The Whisper Stream" and Track 10,"Hot Button" ;I close my eyes and feel like I am in the midst of the ancient land of India filled with sweet wonder and devotion. In Track 3, "Tomorrow Never Knows" with the backward playbacks of music and trippy reverb ,I then feel like a passenger on The Beatles magical mystery tour.
Touched again at the heart of Jai's Jewish roots in Track 5,"Shalom", sung simply with the kind of peace and understanding that we all long for.
He dishes out funky,jazzy,rock'n roll tracks behind this beautiful rendition to the Goddess in Track 9, "Kali Mata".
This album is truely a treasure.Amazing.

Rock Music:

1. Mundo Verde Esperança [Import]
2. N'ssi N'ssi
3. Naked Spirit
4. Nana Mouskouri in New York [Live]
5. Noels Celtiques: Celtic Christmas Music From Brittany
6. Nolwenn
7. Odes [Import]
8. Olho De Peixe
9. Ouragan [Import]
10. Pano Pra Manga [Import]

Rock Music

rock music

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