the guitar music / Jazz Fusion of

Fareed Haque

CD (1991) ; with Garaj Mahal : digi (2000)

Wahdude MusicFareed Haque : Majestad (PAK/CHI/US,1991)***

I heard Fareed did some fine explorations on his self-build sitar-guitar (see picture left). He also uses a Kim Schwartz guitar (see picture right). That last one has 19 strings : 6 strings on the neck, two bass strings and 11 single note drones. All these 19 strings are set on a sitar style bridge, which vibrate or 'buzz' a lot. Woods are Spruce and Maple, rosewood fingerboard. 'Majestad' contains mostly original Fareed Haque compositions, but without these guitars. I can notice a flamenco style education, a jazz fusion interest (especially made stronger with some appearances of electric guitars, bass, drums) and a definite Latin American flavour. The jazz fusion compositions hang on the technically driven acoustic guitar, often relaxed into this Latin American jazz fusion style.

Info : http://www.fareed.com/

Fareed also participates with his Funky Jazzfusion group Garaj Mahal :

  Garaj Mahal : Mondo Garaj (US,2000)***°'

Fareed Haque is also part of the group Garaj Mahal, who plays very funky jazzrock. This is their first studio release after some live albums. The band really performs like another supergroup. The bass line by German/Liberian born Kai Eckardt is in over-drive of rhythm (he participated before with John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Trilok Gurtu), the organ follows the groove and adds solo funk to it, the jazz drummer is fast, and Fareed shows his talent as electric guitarist. On “Hindi Gumbo” he also plays a sitar-like guitar in a very funky jazz way, in a pretty unique way.

Info : http://www.garajmahal.net/flashIndex.html

go back to guitar music review page 5

or to psych-folkindex