Making Music

A staggering gathering of improvising masters from distinct musical backgrounds, Zakir Hussain’s Making Music arrived out of the blue on its release in 1987 and captivated listeners with its special sense of wonder and adventure. “The exchanges of flute, tabla and guitar are often breath taking” noted The Philadelphia Tribune, while describing Jan Garbarek’s playing as ”lines that bend the notes to match Indian vocal music and the sitar and elsewhere to evoke the Norwegian winters.” McLaughlin’s earthy contributions on acoustic guitar blend in with improvisational ease, tying the evocative instrumental expressions of flutist Hariprasad Chaurasia and Hussain’s seemingly omnirhythmic percussion together. It's easy to understand why the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung would draw the conclusion that, “without even one of the four, 'Making Music' would be unimaginable."

 “The result is the most successful bridging of south Asian music and jazz in recent years, a hybrid that diminishes neither. These are four master musicians. They are truly ‘Making Music,’ creating sound beyond simple categorization. If there is a ‘world music,’ this exemplifies it at its best.” - The Philadelphia Tribune

 The album is reissued on vinyl as part of ECM’s Luminessence series for the first time since its original release and arrives in a tip-on gatefold.