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Deepak Ram
Steps
(Golden Horn)
First Appeared in The Music Box, February 2008, Volume 15, #2
Written by Douglas Heselgrave
Mon February 11, 2008, 06:30 AM CST
In the 1960s, many Western musicians discovered Indian classical music and
used it as a source of inspiration. In addition to the more famous forays made
by artists like George Harrison and Donovan, jazz performers such as Miles
Davis, Ornette Coleman, and John Coltrane created songs that reflected the
influence of the Indian raga form. What an interesting turnabout it is, then, to
hear bansuri flute player Deepak Ram interpret standards from the great American
songbook as well as compositions from Davis’ and Coltrane’s canons on his new
album Steps.
Admittedly, I was a little disconcerted when I first heard the bansuri’s
subtle tones substituting for Davis’ cornet and Coltrane’s saxophone on All
Blues and Giant Steps. Initially, it didn’t seem like the instrument
had enough profundity and punch to carry the melodies. After hearing the album
repeatedly, however, the subtlety of Ram’s approach began to reveal itself.
Understated yet possessing a wide range of tones, Ram’s performance conceded the
bansuri’s lack of forcefulness when it is compared with a brass instrument.
Instead, he opted for nuance and depth of feeling.
Not surprisingly, Ram’s transpositions for bansuri succeed best on the more
Indian-influenced material such as John Coltrane’s raga-inspired Naima
and All Blues. The chordal structure and room for improvisation that are
allowed by these songs inevitably give room for Ram to stretch into some lovely
meditative soloing.
On the other hand, when a flute is featured as the lead instrument on a jazz
record, it is sometimes hard for the songs to avoid sounding like New Age or
"elevator" music. Ram struggles, at times, to overcome this obstacle. His
interpretations of Summertime and My Funny Valentine are marred by
their predictable arrangements, which never challenge, question, or comment on
the traditional approach to these overworked standards. Similarly, the trio of
musicians who accompany Ram on guitar, bass, and drums are obviously skilled
players. Nevertheless, as if recognizing the fragility of the bansuri’s sound,
they have opted to do no more than provide a foundation over which he can play.
This decision is understandable, but, the end result is that the bansuri never
engages with the other instruments. Consequently, the genuine interplay from
which some of these compositions would have benefited never occurs.
As the principal student of Hariprasad Chaurasia — who is widely regarded as
the greatest, living performer of classical Indian flute music — Deepak Ram has
become one of the most versatile bansuri players in the world today. His seven
albums of classical ragas are beautiful and challenging, and they should be
heard. When playing this type of music, Ram clearly is at the top of his game.
Steps demonstrates that he understands the jazz idiom, and when he
tackles a suitable composition, he has a lot to offer in terms of expanding the
language of flute improvisation. If he records another jazz-oriented effort and,
more important, if he makes more daring choices about what to play and how to
engage his fellow musicians, Ram may prove himself to be a giant in the field.
With this outing, however, he takes only small steps forward. Hopefully, the
giant ones are still to come. 
Steps is available for download from
Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
Steps also is available from Golden Horn
Records. To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2008 The Music Box
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