Sangria

Release Date: 2009-02-10
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Sangria

“Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspiration from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world.” – LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

Contributing to the unique sound of this recording, Mariah’s ensemble includes: Matthew Montfort, trailblazing pioneer of scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar); Paul McCandless, 2-time Grammy Award nominee and woodwind virtuoso; Kash Killion, first-call bass player and multi-instrumentalist with Sun Ra Arkestra, Cecil Taylor and others; Mindia Devi Klein, award-winning composer and bansuri and jazz flutist; Duru Demetrius, latin percussionist with jazz icons such as Joe Henderson and Herbie Hancock; Anuradha Pal, world’s premiere female tabla player; Debopriyo Sarkar, tabla virtuoso whose recent tours include Kronos Quartet; Brian Rice, versatile percussionist with players such as Mike Marshall.

Album Review

"Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music. Intriguing melodies that draw musical inspiration from the tempos of Brazil, Cuba, India and Spain make for an uplifting serene yet passionate musical journey into an ideal world.” — LATIN BEAT MAGAZINE

"If Dave Brubeck were doing something with a Latin beat, it would come out sounding like this." — ZONE MUSIC REPORTER

“Parker didn't invent the idea of world jazz, but she keeps it moving forward... demonstrating that the fusion of jazz and world music still has plenty of possibilities after all these years.’” — ALL MUSIC GUIDE

"Pianist Mariah Parker cooks up a heady stew of jazz/world fusion on Sangria, a spicy intoxicating mixture of straight-up jazz inflected with ';70s era fusion (think original Return to Forever, circa Light as a Feather) and global influences from both South America and India... This is as exuberant a recording as I've heard in the last year, bursting with inventive jazz phrasing by all the players as well as spiced up with plenty of exotiv flavors from the rich musical heritages of both Latin American and India." — THE SOUNDING BOARD

"This collection of eight original instrumentals by Mariah Parker is just one of many examples of the infusion of East Indian music into Western music, but to my ears one of the most successful." — AUDIOPHILE AUDITION

"Spicy tantalizing flamenco melodies cross pollinate with East Indian rhythms..." — MAXIMUM INK MUSIC MAGAZINE

"Although entirely instrumental, Sangria speaks. Maybe it’s the technical virtuosity abounding in the multiplicity of sounds — in the santur or sarangi, or the tabla or timbales. Maybe it’s in the emotive resonance of what’s behind the sounds, like the longing of separation in 'Between the Lines,' where Parker’s fingers dance across the keys in precise, measured movements, in graceful arching and sweeping strokes, or in the spectacle of wonder in 'Debajo De La Lluvia' or the 'Tenth Journey.' Whatever it is, Parker’s Sangria is a lively, adventurous exploration into a hybrid global identity." — LEO WEEKLY

"Parker kicks off her solo career with a well textured world beat date that finds her multi-instrumentalist abilities and her wide open ears leading the way. There’s nothing but pros on board here who know what to do and they do it in a lively, spontaneous fashion that really grabs you. First class world beat that really covers the bases." — MIDWEST RECORD

"Recommended for fans of world music and jazz." — USA PROGRESSIVE MUSIC

"A gorgeous debut; a sometimes exotic blend full of pleasing instrumental surprises.
Several tracks emphasize Indian traditions, others Latin, but this simply adds layers of
interest to beautiful, contemplative Jazz arrangements." — WRUV

"Dazzling debut... Parker's subtle and sensuous sounds reflect exotic flavors of India, the Middle East and Latin America." — PALO ALTO DAILY NEWS