Reza Khan SHADOW DANCERS
REZA KHAN
SHADOW DANCERS
Painted Media LLC
If you ask Reza Khan, he will tell you how much he loves the night. That love of nighttime inspired his album titled, “Shadow Dancers.”
“You suddenly experience these beautiful, theatrical things where nature turns into a festival,” Reza writes in his press package.
The album opens with a tune called “Aurors” that features Jeff Kashiwa on lead tenor saxophone, before Reza Khan’s guitar magic waves a mystical aura over the production. Here is smooth jazz with an Eastern/Asian groove mixed into the production like shiny gold threads. This joyful song was inspired by the birth of Reza Khan’s daughter.
A composition called “Blue Lounge” is a song I expect to be played all over the smooth jazz radio stations. Reza Khan imagined a club set deep in a forest, with dancers taking advantage of this infectuous beat. The piano solo of Matt King affirms the “J” in jazz.
Reza Khan’s arrangements and his guitar style erase the division between Classical East Indian music and contemporary jazz in a blend of World Music. It’s fresh and appealing. He uses urban grooves to propel these arrangements, along with some of the best contemporary musicians in the music business.
On the title tune, I enjoy the addition of a vocal doubling of Khan’s jazzy guitar and the smooth sassy melody. Bassist Jimmy Haslip adds his talents, interplaying with Khan’s guitar to enhance the groove. The upbeat instrumental titled, “Chillin’” features Philippe Saisse’s keyboards. Each of these original songs is delightfully arranged.
On “Rain Cruiser” they add strings, but that does not take away from the heartbeat that pulses through this song, thanks to sensitive string arrangements by Luciano Filho.
“Sky Rise” features the bass excellence of Nathan East and the flutes of special guest, Rodrigo Ursala. Each of these compositions brings their own unique personality and groove with Khan leading the way.
Reza Khan was born and raised in Bangladesh. He grew up surrounded by Indian classical music and Bengali folk songs. At first, he played percussion before taking up the guitar. Consequently, he exhibits excellent timing and rhythm. He moved to the USA to study music at Queens College and began developing his distinctive and addictive sound on the guitar. Khan often leans towards fusion music when writing and arranging his music. This album is as provocative and entertaining as his other contemporary jazz and world music releases of the past. With this eighth studio album, Reza Khan continues a brilliant amalgamation of his cultural roots into today’s infectious contemporary jazz market. His guitar sound is unique and beautiful. It elevates his composer talents.
THE REZA KHAN BAND: Reza Khan, guitars/fx/sound design/keyboards/Santoor/ composer; Matt King, piano/Fender Rhodes/keyboards; Mauricio Zottarelli, drums/ percussion; Brendan Rothwell/bass; Philippe Saisse, keyboards/synthesizer/vibraphone/FX/organ/synth/ pads/ vibraphone/ marimba/kalimba/Wurlitzer. FEATURED GUESTS: Jeff Kashiwa, tenor saxophone/sax/EWI/horn arranger; Mark Egan, Nathan East & Jimmy Haslip, bass; Sergio Pereira, acoustic Nylon guitar; Olivia Foschi, vocals; Zach Brock, violin lead/solo; Andrew Sumabat, trumpet; Dylon Rajah, tenor sax; Henry Smith-Hunt, trombone; Rodrigo Ursala, flutes; Emilio Martins, additional percussion; STRING ARRANGEMENTS: Luciano Filho; Violins: Fabio Engle, Francisco Krug, Denis Usov & Fabio Chamme.Fabio Sohio, viola; Cristina Geraldini, cello.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
