Shez Raja and Japjit Kaur whip up electrifying Indo-funk at Pizza Express Jazz Club

In recent years, electric bassist Shez Raja has increasingly drawn on his Indian heritage as a source of musical inspiration. His most recent album, Tales from the Punjab, was recorded in Lahore in 2021 and was deeply inspired by local ancient ragas and traditional folk tunes. These cultural explorations set the conceptual context for this high-energy gig.

Raja’s punchy basslines were the central driving force in the band, and he was never afraid to improvise on the upper registers of the fretboard. Internationally acclaimed alto saxophonist Tony Kofi brought a musical energy that blended the fluid pyrotechnics of Charlie Parker, the emotional intensity of Ornette Coleman, and the joyful exuberance of Cannonball Adderley. Electric pianist Chris Jerome’s synth lines cut through the mix with razor sharp clarity, and Sophie Alloway’s drums were effortlessly groovy. Electric violinist Pascal Roggen was also exceptional, his impassioned shredding shifting unpredictably between the harmonic minor tonalities of Indian music, the lyricism of pop ballads, and the lilting rhythms of Celtic folk fiddle.

Stylistically, the band covered an enormous amount of ground, beginning with high-intensity jazz fusion in the style of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Characterised by dense harmonies and wonky chromatic melodies, these Indo-funk tunes showcased each musicians’ virtuosity and ability to lock into a tight groove. The addition of Indian vocalist Japjit Kaur for the following two tunes enabled Raja to explore Indian ragas in a more distilled form.

Stripped back to a trio format, Kaur’s crystalline vocals, inflected with the rich ornamentation of Hindustani classical music, effortlessly soared over minimalist accompaniments of Alloway and Raja. Alloway was particularly impressive here, using a lightness of touch and a sympathetic rhythmic intuition to play the role of the tabla player on her drum set. The first set ended on an introspective note, the whole band reunited playing original compositions dedicated to Raja’s son and Hindu goddess Lakshmi.

Throughout the second set, Raja’s interest in astrology and astrobiology become increasingly evident in tunes such as ‘Quantum Spirits’ and ‘Get Cosmic’. Having moved from exploring the relationship between East and West to a more spiritual consideration of Earth’s place in the universe, the band ventured into the realms of sci-fi tinged free jazz. Kofi excelled in this freer context, his musical storytelling impeccable amid circular breathing tricks and rapid arpeggiated trills. An evening of individual virtuosity, and a collective triumph.