Sumitra: Indian Girl

• Cat.no: NGE033
• Released: January 2006
• Rating: 8/10

A well established household name in Austria, New York born Sumitra releases an adventurous contemporary Jazz album.

Purists may well snub her cutting edge stylings, which would be a greatshame. Sweet-voiced Sumitra has plenty to tell both musically andlyrically, ranging from race and heritage issues in the modern world, tolove and insecurity.

The ‘Indian Girl’ sometimes adopts an MOR feel, (though not an out-and -outapproach in the Katie Melua formula) is countered by complex rhythms, allbeautifully harnessed over the easy flowing tracklisting format.

Mostly using low-fi genteelness, she uses simple acoustic guitar strumming,balanced by her husband and guitarist Alex Machacek,and rhythm section of drummer Mario Lackner and bassist Tibor Kovesdi, asthey collectively pull together some sublime band work.

High on the agenda both vocally and musically is an undeniable love affairwith melody which effectively drives the album on its rollercoaster ofcompositions, which in most part are accessible to the uninitiated andcasual Jazz fan. Just for fun, she even throws in a bit of funkiness throughtrack 7, At The End, without losing the genre’s sensibilities.

As a package, the composite outcome of Indian Girl is an effortless andrelaxed offering. In terms of songwriting she’s way ahead of her peers.

Of its type, this is a top class and sophisticated album.

Top tracks: Destiny 2001, My Love’s Like A Red Red Rose.