George Brooks Summit

Today, the infusion into jazz of musical and cultural influences from around the world is creating anew an ever-expanding range of thrilling stylistic options for adventurous jazz fans and musicians. Among the most exciting examples within this glorious trend stands the George Brooks Summit. A truly fascinating master group, George Brooks Summit interweaves the power of contemporary jazz with the complex rhythms and stirring melodies of North Indian raga. In fact, the four members of the Summit, saxophonist George Brooks, tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain, guitarist Fareed Haque and bassist Kai Echkhardt, incorporate the music and cultures of Africa, South America, Europe, Central Asia and more, along with the U.S. and India. Talk about fusion. Brooks has been delving into Indian music, and incorporating it into his jazz, since 1979. While he's made an intense study of Indian forms, and collaborated with many leading Indian artists, his more traditional jazz foundation is also solid and deep. He's played with musicians like Etta James, Jaki Byard and Slide Hamption. Hussain, a global all-star, has performed throughout India and collaborated with greats ranging from Joe Henderson to Yo Yo Ma. Haque has diverse European and South American influences that surface in his stinging, exhilarating guitar work. Eckhardt, raised in Germany and Liberia, has played with Larry Coryell and John McLaughlin, among many others. You get the picture. A thrilling Indian/jazz master sound infused with cultural influences from around the globe.