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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Hellborg — Icon
(Bardo 042, 2002, CD)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 2003-08-01

Icon Cover art

Hellborg came to notice in the 80s as a member of Mahavishnu Orchestra, and since then has released a number of solo albums. It sounds as if he and guitarist Shawn Lane have been listening to ethnic music — Srinivas in particular comes to mind: the (relatively) popular South Indian prodigy mandolinist whose excellent CD can be found on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Hellborg and Lane are matched here by three South Indian musicians, on ghatam (a clay pot used as a hand drum); kanjeera (a kind of tambourine); and voice. The music is all original in composition. Although some themes have a Western music tinge, by and large Icon is more of an authentic South Indian style than an East-West fusion. Structurally you will find the same forms at play, featur- ing those ubiquitous blinding percussion and chanted solos that are Indian music’s trademark. What is so astounding is how everything is performed to a strict metric scheme; not free improvisation! Don’t ask me how these hand drummers keep the time signature in their minds while effortlessly tossing off such polyrhythmic stunts. Hellborg has been known as one of those lead-bass monster-chops bassists, but fortunately not here. He plays simple melodic lines, bereft of the double stops and flashiness that I was expecting. Both he and Lane use similar vibrato and note-sliding techniques to mimic the South Indian method of embellishing a melody, something which gives the style its definitive character. I could go on all day about how wonderful Icon is but my word limit is running out. No question about it though: a cinch entry into the top ten of 2002.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 27, 2002 releases

Related artist(s): Jonas Hellborg

 

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