Jazz and world-music lovers get a wake-up call as the adventurous jazz trio VidyA releases their first full-length album. An innovative mélange of South Indian classical music and jazz, VidyA s sound redefines both traditions for an experience that has been thrilling audiences for the past two years. The self-titled album features original compositions and arrangements, created by musicians performing and interacting at the highest level. VidyA began garnering attention through the strength of their enthusiastically received shows at the Red Poppy Art House in San Francisco, where the group s four-month performance residency in 2006 established them as an important voice on the SF jazz scene. Recognized by the SF Chronicle in 2007 as one of a handful of groups to watch, VidyA has garnered acclaim for their ability to produce complex rhythmic and tonal nuance through a remarkably beautiful, accessible sound. The fusion of two genres of music emerges in VidyA s music in a deeply organic way. The drums and bass lock into one another, driving the music forward like a Jazz rhythm section, while the tenor saxophone elaborates and improvises on Carnatic ragas. The group weaves in and out of the two genres while all the time merging them into one. VidyA translates the language of Carnatic music into the idiom of Jazz. The group is led by saxophonist Prasant Radhakrishnan, whose expertise in both Carnatic (South Indian classical) music and jazz runs deep. Now 26, Radhakrishnan began rigorous studies with Carnatic saxophone maestro Kadri Gopalnath at age 13 and has earned acclaim among the elite musical circles of Chennai, the mecca of Carnatic music. He has performed hundreds of concerts across India, North America and Japan, both on his own and with his teacher, Carnatic saxophone pioneer and maestro, Kadri Gopalnath. Yet while Radhakrishnan has, through Carnatic music, immersed himself deeply in his Indian cultural roots, as a first-generation American, jazz is also a native art form for him. He became intrigued with jazz in high school; later, as a student in the Jazz Studies program at the University of Southern California, Radhakrishnan began creating compositions integrating the two musical worlds, ultimately leading to the Carnatic/jazz tapestry of VidyA. So for Radhakrishnan, jazz and Carnatic music are an entirely holistic pairing, and the sound of VidyA is one he s been hearing in his mind s ear, and seeking a way to recreate, as he s continued to delve into these disparate, yet complementary elements of his Indo-American identity. Radhakrishnan is accompanied by David Ewell on bass and Sameer Gupta on drums, who comprise the rhythmic sparkle of VidyA s music. David Ewell is one of the most sought after bass players in the Jazz and contemporary music scene. His innate sense for improvised music has made him a inseparable part of VidyA"s intense sound. David has traveled the world playing with jazz greats while performing regularly with Marc Cary, Howard Wiley, Lavay Smith and many others. Sameer Gupta has established himself as a powerful voice in percussion and improvised music. His background in Indian classical percussion combines with his powerful drumming to create a dynamic soundscape for VidyA. Also a composer, Sameer has worked in several succesful ensembles, including the Supplicants, which he founded. David and Sameer have performed together in various ensembles for several years. The album offers listeners an impressive mix of textures and moods, ranging from the percussive groove of the track DSH to the melodic dreaminess of Kedaragowla and Flight. Many of the selections are named for the Carnatic ragas on which they are based, reminding listeners of the music s lineage.