The Indo-German jazz rock band, Noisy Mama, is nothing like what you can imagine or as the name suggests.
Solid jazz-funk and rock grooves consolidated with the refined rhythms and harmony of carnatic ragas is the essential sound of the band started by award winning German drummer, vocalist and composer, Carola Grey.
They are all set to enthrall the audience at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore on November 13, 2013. The other members are city-based percussionist, Karthik Mani, John Anthony, Biju Paulose, Palakkad Sreeram and Naveen Kumar.
“Karthik was touring India with a German youth orchestra that I was teaching. I got acquainted with Karthik after the orchestra's performance, and we struck a chord after which he invited me to do a gig with his mother, Carnatic vocalist R.A. Ramamani and him. We have been working together on many projects since then," says Carola.
The band was founded by Carola in 1991 in New York. “The sound of the band has changed with me as I explored different forms of music. We call ourselves an Indian jazz rock band because I have added the Indian concepts of music to the classic form of jazz and rock. This band is my most personal project," adds Carola who has performed with many Indian maestros like T.V. Gopalkrishnan, Vaidyanathan Suresh, Rajhesh Vaidyha, and Sriram Parthasarathy.
Carola's stint in India started when T.V. Gopalkrishnan heard the first Noisy Mama record and invited her to India for a tour with his Carnatic Jazz Project. She met guitarist John Anthony who is known for his world music band, Karnatriix at one of the concerts.
“Carola was one of the three percussionists playing in that show. The only rehearsal before the show was her beating her thighs along with the music so that she could get a rhythm. But when she started playing, she nailed TV Gopalkrishnan's complex compositions," says John.
Noisy Mama has released five albums till date. Road To Goa, their latest album, has received critical acclaim all over the world and has been recommended by legendary drummer, Steve Smith.
