10th April 2014: Press update for ‘Leave the Door Open’ by Joel Harrison & Anupam Shobhakar: 5 stars from Jazz Journal, 4 star Downbeat, BBC Radio play, Jazz Thing, All About Jazz + more
More great press than we can shake a stick at!
Joel Harrison & Anupam Shobhakar released Leave the Door Open in March and since it’s release we’ve had dozens of reviews and radio play for the album hit from around the world. Recent highlights include BBC Radio 3 play, 4 Star review in Downbeat Magazine, All About Jazz review, 4 Stars from the Irish Times, Recommendation from Wondering Sound, Music an Sich review, Musicreview DE, Rock Times DE, Sound & Image, and Jazz Thing.
Here are some of the highlights from above:
“Harrison & Shobhakar offer precise musical diversity. Some people might say that jazz was yesterday? MULTIPLICITY aka LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN proves the opposite.”
5 Stars, DieRedaktion (Germany)
“A release of considerable appeal… never less than stimulating.”
5 Stars, Jazz Journal
“At its best, Multiplicity managers to be both reflective and forward-looking; it is nearly always original in its marriage of the Indian and Western.”
4 Stars, Downbeat Magazine
“His latest collaboration, with classical Indian sarode player Anupam Shobhakar, sounds like an exploration of the deepest roots of all guitar-like instruments.”
4 Stars, The Irish Times
“With Harrison and Shobhakar’s stylistic confluence, intuitive interpretive skills and compelling compositional abilities, Leave the Door Open is a project that, hopefully, won’t be a one-time affair. It’s a heady brew that doesn’t so much find a meeting point where East and West meet as it does blow the door open between the two, allowing the music to seamlessly ebb and flow from and towards both sides, creating something that’s the sum total of both but equally reverent to their individual touchstones.”
All About Jazz
“The material is disparate, the project is ambitious.”
Jazz Thing Magazine DE
“The album thrills with an impressive mix of Indian Classical, jazz, blues and folk. Besides the two heads of the project, there is an illustrious selection of core musicians to the ensemble. An excellent collection of creative forces.”
Rhein Main Magazine (Germany)
“The album title says it all – namely the request to leave the door wide open. Something special.”
Rocktimes DE
“A truly illustrious group of high caliber musicians.”
Music an Sich
“Heart Touching simplicity meets thorny jazz eruptions.”
Musicreview DE
“Harrison and Shobhakar blend more than well, and they produce a nuanced meshing of ancient and modern musical styles that include the inclusion of traditional Bengali music and an African-American spiritual harnessing incendiary improvisational resources to spectacular effect at certain points.”
Marlbank (UK)
“The two “duel” with great devotion with a touch of spirituality in the air.”
Sound & Image DE
“In a week teeming with albums that could be designated as Something Different, this collaboration between guitarist Joel Harrison and sarodist Anupam Shobhakar may top them all. A mix of jazz, Indian classical, blues and soul, this fascinating set of tunes transcends influence while remaining salt of the earth. Joining the duo are the keys (and accordion) of Gary Versace, the bass of Hans Glawischnig, the drums & percussion of Dan Weiss, and guests David Binney and Todd Isler. Terribly compelling music. Recommended.”
Wondering Sound
Drummer Magazine’s recommended new releases for March, 2014
Drummer Magazine