Photo originally uploaded @ www.gulte.com
When I first came across John McLaughlin’s Floating Point three years ago, I instantly fell in love with it. What I didn’t realize then, was that, apart from being one of McLaughlin’s most fantastic set of Indo-Jazz/ Fusion compositions, the album makes roads for a stream of young Indian musicians from both classical and western schools, and opens up new horizons in the world of Jazz and World Music.
One such less explored, yet extremely gifted musician I discovered out of the album was Mandolin player U Rajesh. Brother and disciple of Mandolin Maestro U Srinivas, (of legendary Remember Shakti fame) who revolutionized the instrument by mastering the Carnatic style of Gamakam even on a staccato instrument like Mandolin; Rajesh had a relatively subdued musical journey in his initial years. Over the years, Rajesh crafted himself into a brilliant musician, creating a unique percussive style in electric mandolin that has made a meaningful significance among the honest musicians across the world.
Photo originally uploaded @ www.imsom.org
Besides playing with Mandolin Srinivas, Rajesh has performed extensively alongside musical greats like Vikku Vinayakaram, V.Selvaganesh, John McLaughlin, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ranjit Barot, Bikram Ghosh and Pete Lockett among many others across major Festivals around the world, including the prestigious International Mandolin Festival held at Rudolstadt, Germany organized by Tanz & Folk Festival.
Rajesh’s versatile musical creations include Carnatic albums like Coromandel Duet(with Vikku Vinayakram)- a much acclaimed work by crtitics around the world , a fascinating solo album Turning Point, a blissful Eternal Bliss (with U.Shrinivas), a mystical Mystic Raptures (with U.Shrinivas and V.Selvaganesh) ,a live concert Maestros Choice with U.Shrinivas and a soulful Monsoon Melodies(with Bikram Ghosh).Rajesh’s Jazz Fusion/World endeavors include albums like Into the light (with Anil Srinivasan), Grammy nominated Spirit (with Pete Lockett, Bikram Ghosh, John Gwasky, Anil Srinivasan, Keith Peters, Uma Shankar ) among others.He has also featured in many albums like Selva Ganesh’s Impressions, Pete Lockett's Journey with the Master Percussionists of India and of course, John McLaughlin’s Grammy nominated album Floating Point.
"...I was attracted to jazz as a kid. When I was about 13 I heard Shakti. My favourite was John ji. Vikku mama (ghatam exponent Vikku Vinayakram, part of Shakti) had given me the cassette. It was wonderful that John ji reviewed my album Turning Point." - U.Rajesh
Source :The Hindu
"Once again a new star shines on the musical horizon. For many years Rajesh has been eclipsed by the brilliance of his elder brother the world renowned U. Srinivas. With this CD, we see the dawning of a young man who shines entirely with his own light. He has carved out yet another original style on the mandolin; and while we may enjoy the subtle influences of his elder brother and Venna Maestro (Late) S. Balachander, here is an artist whose mature personality sings loud and clear through his music. Marvellous!!"
-Mahavishnu John McLaughlin on U.Rajesh's Album Turning Point
Listen to Inside Out : John Mclaughlin/U.Rajesh,The Floating Point
His diverse endeavors and exceptional ability to flow melodiously across genres through the electronically treated strings of the mandolin, with the Gamakka that is inherent in his fingers, has earned him a lot of respect among the Classical and Jazz schools ,world over.
U Rajesh believes in creating music with a deeper philosophical meaning. Most of Rajesh’s compositions portray an ‘inclusive’ musical philosophy. The ease with which Rajesh adapts to Carnatic classical melodies and fuses them into an Indo-Western ambience is really fascinating.Rajesh is among the young,open and intelligent niche of Indian classical musicians who through their devotion and ingenuity can take their listeners into the light and thus,bear testimony to the fact, that a new, honest generation of music has dawned upon.
Meeting of Minds : The Making of Floating Point ,John McLaughlin
In conversations with U. Rajesh
References :
Further Readings:
"Its a different story however ,that ,when I searched online about U. Rajesh and his complete discography , most of the links talked about his marraige with Meera Jasmine and well,almost nothing about his work/life.It surely was a musical shock. Sing would be grateful to the readers who choose to come forward and help us with more information about the artist's discography/work beyond the albums Sing mentioned in the above article"
