On Saturday night, MCB’s Drew Bender was at the Kerrytown Concert House (or KCH for short) in Ann Arbor to see virtuoso guitarist Fareed Haque & the Flat Earth Ensemble perform their original and inspiring mix of Indian/Punjabi-inspired jazz. With Alex Austin on acoustic bass guitar, Jason Smart on drums, Willerm Delisfort behind the keys of KCH’s amazing model ‘C’ Hamburg Steinway grand piano, Jim Feist behind the tablas (east Indian melodic drums), and Fareed Haque on guitar, this tight 5-piece had the rapt attention of the KHC audience.
Rocking a Gibson LS-5 and his custom made Guistar, a custom 6 string acoustic guitar with an extended, modified neck with an extra 14 strings to make a guitar-sitar hybrid, Fareed is nothing if not original. I’d never been to the KCH before but it was a wonderful, cozy venue with a warm, rich sound and inviting staff. Normally the KCH features chamber music and off the beaten path jazz groups, and the capacity is probably around 50 or so. As with a lot of the great jazz and world music around SE Michigan, the Saturday’s audience was a great mix of older, well-dressed music aficionados, early 30s jam buffs, and Ann Arbor and Ypsi hippie kids there to see the renowned Haque and company. As with all of the projects I’ve seen Fareed play in, all of the musicians in the Flat Earth Ensemble could definitely hold their own, and then some. Austin’s novel choice of fretless acoustic bass guitar (a far more practical touring instrument than a stand-up bass) allowed for richer sounds than an electric as his fingers danced across those four strings. Jason Smart’s brush-stroked jazz drumming, alternating between smooth jazz beats and more worldly moves kept everyone locked in tight.
I could hear a dead elephant or two trumpeting some major guffaws as Delisfort’s fingers tickled those ivories like nobody’s business, and I wish he’s had more solo time as his speed and execution was really admirable.
Feist on tabla – the limits of my exposure to the Hindustani drums are mostly to maestro Zahir Hussein and my old friend Rajiv Parikh formerly of New Monsoon – I don’t think I’d ever seen a Caucasian tabla player before, and Feist did not disappoint. Tablas are two drums behind which a skilled player can make sounds you’ve never heard from a drum kit and really add a great Indian element to the playing. Fareed said that when they’re playing out west in the coming weeks that they’ll be joined by tabla and sitar masters who will undoubtedly further infuse these eastern elements into Haque’s worldly jazz. Fareed Haque is one of those guitarists who could play anything – really, ANYTHING. A consummate professional, the speed of Haque’s playing as his fingers nimbly danced across the fret board is mind blowing to most seeing him play for the first time. Playing mostly original tunes off of their recent releast ‘Flat Planet’ Haque and company also bust out a great, jazz rendition of Patsy Cline’s ‘Crazy’ to the delight of the KCH audience. After two great sets of music, I can’t wait to see Fareed Haque again – with the Flat Earth Ensemble or in another project. And I can’t wait to go back to the Kerrytown Concert House – a great, intimate venue that’s really all about the music.
WERD!!
-drew
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