M.I.A. was nominated last year (also has other past desi nominees).

Oops, how could I miss Ms. Arulpragasam?

I was looking forward to Zoe's coverage by the Mutiny. She's an excellent pianist, and she transfuses hints of Thelonious Monk's amazing rhythm, Bill Evans' complex yet subdued chordal voicings, and Tatum's virtuositic flair in one swift blow. What's most charming about her is the fact that she seems completely humble, unpretentious about getting the most covetted recognition in the UK for emerging music/artists, and completely rooted in her identity, and adorns it like a badge of honor in her stylistic references. Very much in the vain of her fellow South Asian jazz pianist Iyer, and carnatic/jazz guitarist Prasanna, who is, in my opinion, the quintessential South Asian guitar virtuoso. It's a good day for the desi jazz, and I'm relishing the moment.

It's a good day for the desi jazz, and I'm relishing the moment.

Apparently I had desi-tourettes while gushing ove Zoe....I meant the desi jazz scene.

nice one 'deep, and thanks red snapper. i didn't know about her, and i like what i hear... i don't know about direct comparisons - especially with only the short snippets to work from - but there's a fluidity, a liquid grace, without sacrificing structure... eh, too early in the morning for me to wax jazzical. but i am reminded of the feeling of another interesting female jazz pianist, canadian renee rosnes, who interestingly enough is also half-desi... her birth mother was indian, and rosnes only learned this fact later in life. maybe i'll write up a post about her at some point.

Can anyone recommend good first albums to acquire of Iyer and Prasanna? And from where? Thanks

the true value is in the shortlist, not the actual winner

Such a simple concept, and yet so intriguing. I confess (embarrassed) that I've never thought of it this way before. And yet, I see now that it is exactly the right attitude to prizes. Man, I totally just had a zen moment. Thanks Amardeep.

Congratulations to Zoe Rahman. I enjoyed the clips on her site. As for who she sounds like, no, not Jarrett, not Monk, not Evans... I hate to say it (it's so obvious) but Iyer is actually a possibility. Nothing to do with them both being South Asian. It's just that they have the same fractured sense of lyric.

But who she really reminds me of is Rachel Z and Esbjorn Svensson. A slightly pop sensibility, inflected with classical touches (Stravinsky, Shostakovich), an approach to jazz piano that has rather little to do with the African-American roots of the genre. In a word, she sounds very ECM.

Can anyone recommend good first albums to acquire of Iyer

Chandi, go to itunes and download two tracks from Vijay's recent album, Reimagining. I recommend "Phalanx" and "Imagine." It's definitely not for all tastes, but if you open yourself up to it, it'll bring you closer to God.

Chandi,

You could probably get it from Vijay Iyer's website, or Amazon. Prasanna's stuff are here. If you've heard A.R. Rahman's earlier work in Pudhiya Mugam, Prasanna is the one who plays flamenco/carnatic guitar on July Madham.

I would argue the true value of a prize for artistic achievements is nothing.

You would, wouldn't you?

Chandi, and anyone else for that matter, another good resource is The AllMusic Guide. I use it a lot to get albums by artists with whom I'm unfamiliar. I've been disappointed once in a while, but that's the exception rather than the rule.

i've met prasanna but unfortunately have yet to properly grok his music, hopefully someone else here can oblige.

as for vijay: go to his website and you'll get a sense of what he's up to. if you go the albums page, there are some reliable critic's dsecriptions for each one. i would start with two recordings. one is his quartet album from last year called "reimagining." it will give you a good picture of his range and approach as a straightahead jazz player; as always with his work, it tends towards the cerebral, but the quartet format and the presence of his chief partner-in-crime rudresh mahanthappa on saxophone helps keep things from getting too remote, and instead produces a really stimulating creative tension.

i would also get "in what language?" (2004) which is the music of a multimedia song-cycle performance that vijay composed with the poet-rapper mike ladd, and which features a passel of other great young musicians and actors. it's astonishingly good, and completely accessible yet will take you to great heights. i don't even know what to say about this album anymore, i've written about it and about its creators, but i listen to it so often that it's passed into my bloodstream. to my tastes, this is one of the key compositions of the decade. vijay and mike have a new project of the same sort, it's called "still life with commentator," it premiered in the spring at UNC and it's having its NYC premiere in december at BAM. folks should not miss this under any circumstances.

the two albums i recommended are easy to find in stores or from the usual online providers. hope this helps... enjoy!

Siddhartha,

I envy thee sir. I would be willing to pawn my nuggets to pick Prasanna's brain. I guess he's primarily a carnatic musician more than anything, and particularly shines in improv. Ragabop is a tour de force examplifying his penchant for florid bebop lines (with the amazing Victor Wooten keeping pace, note for note) without sacrificing the haunting cadence of the Hamsavadhini raaga (of course, Carnatic music is beyond my head, although I was raised in its melodic appeal.)He's been foraying into sort of a acid-rock-jazz phase now, with Electric Ganesha Land, an homage to Hendrix, I'm not too thrilled by that. He tends to play the east coast for some reason, and usually comes to L.A, where I live merely to record. Well he used to at least. Anyway, didn't want to thread hijack this post with Prasanna. Today is Zoe's day.

Real artists do need commercial validation. Read Beethoven's letters. He's constantly griping about payments and bills.

Prizes (shortlists, if not necessarily winners) tell us something about artistic quality, but yes, they are also subject to fleeting fashion. It's not all or nothing. The recognition that a prize brings can (financially) help an artist make more art, or (if the Law of Unintended Consequences comes into play) it can starve artistic inspiration. Everything is everything.

Peace, Gautham.

Real artists absolutely do need commercial validation. Now, how I personally differ between the "real" and "fake" is the integrity with which the art is created. That is, if the only driving force is commerce, then the artist has no integrity and I would not use the label. However, an artist is most likely to deliver great are if s/he has the money to completely devote his/her life to that art. Back in the day you had artist patrons, now you have grants and record companies. It's all part of the same continuum and to say that money should not matter to the artist is ridiculous.

I'm not a jazz expert by any means, but I really like her stuff. She seems very humble and such a nice person too - good luck to her.

Thanks all for your recommendations!

eh, too early in the morning for me to wax jazzical

Well, now that it's late @ night, it's the perfect time for me to wax jazzical. I love playing armchair quarterback and analyzing musicians who are far more accomplished than I will ever be. All of my comments here should be taken w/ a grain of salt as I'm not a professional musician...only a music lover. Anyway, here are my thoughts based only on the 9 one minute soundbytes available on her web site:

1. The sound in general has a very ECM feel to it. Not surprising seeing as how her bio says she spent some time playing w/ Bob Moses.
2. Some of the tracks sound, to me, a lot like some of Patricia Barber's recordings, minus the vocals, of course.
3. I like the fact that all the tunes have a groove to them. While I have mad respect for Vijay Iyer, his music does not make an emotional connection with me. I listen to his albums for the intellectual exercise, but once I understand what's going on rhythmically and harmonically, his music does not move me to listen beyond that.
4. I LOVE the clarinet playing on the 6th track. This is because, again only based on the one minute sound clip, he actually plays in the lower registers of the clarinet. I love it when horn players, or any instrumentalist for that matter, plays in the lower registers because it draws a much more resonant tone out of the instrument. Miles Davis understood this, and figure he's probably the most popular jazz musician of all time, so why doesn't anyone else?
5. Her drummer's playing reminds me a lot of Jon Christensen.
6. If you like this album, you should check out some of Peter Erskine's records. In particular, Live at Rocco or his ECM recordings w/ John Taylor and Palle Daniellson.