Shiva Station

by Heather PharesJai Uttal's 1997 album Shiva Station continues his eclectic fusion of Indian musical traditions with jazz and electronic elements. Sinuous, spontaneous pieces like "Guru Brahma," "Bhajore," and "Jaya Jagadambe (She Who Tears Apart Thought)" combine a loose, improvised feel with lush arrangements that include sitars, tablas, violins, banjos, trombones, and electric guitars. Bill Laswell's production adds to the organic, seemingly effortless blend of old, new, improvised, and structured musical styles on Shiva Station.