Garaj Mahal

Garaj Mahal took shape in the United States in 2000 around guitarist Fareed Haque, bassist Kai Eckhardt, drummer Sean Rickman and keyboardist Eric Levy, with an approach where jazz fusion crosses funk, rock and Indian music influences. The band developed a format closely tied to the live scene, based on improvisation, instrumental developments, and a constant flow between groove, collective virtuosity, and open structures, which places it both in the jam-band circuit and in a more complex fusion tradition. Garaj Mahal released in 2003 the albums Live Vol. 1, Live Vol. 2, Live Vol. 3 and Mondo Garaj, followed by Blueberry Cave in 2005, w00t in 2008 and More Mr. Nice Guy in 2010. Its discography reflects well the balance between concert energy and writing, with tracks where electric textures, syncopated rhythms and modal detours occupy a central place. Over the years, Garaj Mahal also experienced personnel changes, notably with Alan Hertz, Greg Fundis and Mitchel Forman mentioned among the musicians who took part in the project’s history, before a more occasional revival of activity from 2018.