Niḷa Ragawerk

• 1 Niḷa 05:56
• 2 Shyam 07:12
• 3 Soledad 07:08
• 4 Karela 04:05
• 5 Blue P. 05:24
• 6 Computerwelt 04:16
• 7 Relagadi 05:09
• 8 Merkur 04:12
• 9 Charukeshi 05:24
• 10 Blue P. Reprise 05:00
• Total Runtime 53:46

Info for Niḷa

Ragawerk, that’s Max Clouth and Martin Standke. Loops and ragas, electronics, jazz and a good pinch of Krautrock, Indian and Western sound elements merge into a unique fusion. The band’s roots in jazz remain unmistakable. Indian ragas and European-influenced jazz craftsmanship become ragawerk. Sometimes wistful or melancholy, always with great clarity.

Critics speak of “floating worlds of sound” (Jazzpodium) and “driving, beat-heavy pieces, but also gentle incantations” (Jazzthing). It celebrates the fusion of ragas with European-influenced jazz as a “pretty hyped amalgam” (Jazz N More) and attests Ragawerk “a wonderfully herb-rock-like mixture that has everything to offer from meditation to jazz” (Musikreviews) – “a global fusion with the scent of incense” (Eclipsed). “A kind of Buddha of jazz speaks from Ragawerk.” (Music Reviews).

“Niḷa” is their second album, on which Ragawerk now play even more directly and rawly alongside their usual brilliance. More “Deutschness”, a little more angular. But also pure, crystalline, spacey. Niḷa” showcases the band’s entire spectrum: from earthy directness to cosmic clarity.

Martin Standke, drums, electronics, additional keyboards
Max Clouth, guitar
Vroni Frisch, bass
Robert Schippers, keyboards
BC Manjunath, mridangam
Shruti Ramani, vocals
Peter Hinz, tabla
Sophie-Justine Herr, vocals

Recorded by Christian Lauterbach at Schwesternheim Studio
Mixed by Philipp Heck
Mastered by Patrick Stäudle

Martin Standke
studied music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Frankfurt and at the Cologne University of Music, majoring in jazz percussion. He won the Hessian Jazz Prize with the "Contrast Trio." He has been awarded the Frankfurt Jazz Scholarship four times for his collaborations with various bands. He has played with the hr-Jazzensemble, Heinz Sauer, Günther Lenz, Joki Freund, Dominique DiPiazzia, and Michael Sagmeister, among others. As a drummer, Martin Standke is musically and artistically involved in productions at the Schauspiel Frankfurt and the Münchner Kammerspiele.

Max Clouth
After studying jazz guitar at the Mainz University of Music and the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden, he moved to India. He lived in Mumbai for three years and studied music there, immersing himself deeply in the country, its traditions, and sounds. He later studied film music at the Ludwigsburg Film Academy. Max Clouth is a recipient of the Frankfurt Jazz Scholarship and has been nominated for the German Film Music Award. He writes film scores for arte, ARD, and ZDF. He has performed with, among others, Varijashree Venugopal, Arijit Singh, the HR Big Band, Ishaan Ghosh, Oli Rubow, Bernhard Schimpelsberger, and Tamar Halperin.

This album contains no booklet.