Garaj Mahal
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Garaj Mahal

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Music

The best kept secret in music

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"Garaj Mahal"

Virtuosos Garaj Mahal return to the Lowcountry with their blend of odd tempos and unique fusion of spacy jazz, funk, and psychedelic rock. Delving into the ultra-weird (the band actually barked through one of its songs during a set at the Windjammer last summer), these four highly experienced and talented musicians merge their creativity to spawn a conceptual sound that leaves the audience dancing, laughing, and questioning what it just heard. Garaj Mahal's outside-the-box sound is a refreshing break from the jam band noodling ever so common on the scene these days. The band members' command of their respective instruments results in a seamless improvisation that takes the listener on a smooth journey through the entertaining and intellectual set. For jazz aficionados and jam-band lovers alike.

- Kristen George - Charlston City Paper (February 2005)


"Garaj Mahal"

Garaj Mahal has been blowing minds for the past five years with their jazz fusion rock n roll. I've been on the band wagon (no pun intended) for the past four years and have traveled to eight states to witness about twenty shows by this power quartet. While living in Boulder in 2001, I saw numerous advertisements for Garaj Mahal, but didn't pay much attention because I thought they were a punk band. Upon more careful inspection of the posters I realized that one of my favorite drummers was in the band. Alan Hertz was the H in Steve Kimock’s KVHW. Alan had more beats than Steve had guitar licks. Seeing Alan in the line up was enough to spark my interest. I walked in the show that night not knowing any of the other players, but left knowing that I would be seeing a lot more of those guys. Later I learned Fareed Haque teaches jazz and classical guitar at Northern Illinois University; Eric Levy, on keys, was one of his students. Kai Eckhardt, who graduated from with honors from Berkley College of Music, is definitely a respected bass player.

– Michael Saba - Memphis On-Line Magazine (February 2005)


"Garaj Mahal"

...a showcase for the jaw-dropping talents of the four bandmembers, Mondo Garaj provides a snapshot of how these four gifted individuals — each of whom could be a band leader in his own right — combine into a fine-tuned unit.

-- Hal Horowitz - All Music Guide (December 2003)


"Review: Mondo Garaj"

(3.5 stars)

This perfectly good American jam band with jazz smarts takes things to the next exciting level when looking to the land south of the Himalayas about half the time on their first studio album. Fareed Haque, of Pakistani blood roots, lets loose with his considerable imagination as guitarist and composer - "Beware My Ethnic Heart" rekindles the Mahavishnu inner mounting flame and three more of his songs reach the ears in a terrific surge of well-played sitar guitar, bass (Kai Eckhardt), drums (Alan Hertz) and keyboards (Eric Levy). The band is worthy of the touching of the guru’s feet. - Downbeat Magazine (April 2004)


"Garaj Mahal"

…this quartet gives new meaning to the concept of a group being bigger than the sum of its disparate parts… Garaj Mahal has the X-factor that wows audiences. They achieve this through a combination of powerful chops laden instrumentation, collective groove and improvisational chance taking. Garaj Mahal's rhythm section is as dynamic and entertaining as the best in the business, and the band's melodic voices go way outside the box. Jam band fans and anyone else with an interest in seeking out a “thinking musicians band” will be more than delighted with a night spent boogieing to Garaj Mahal.

-- Ted Silverman - JamBase.com


"Garaj Mahal"

Fareed Haque - man, he just kicked my ass. He's got this band Garaj Mahal, and I was kind of familiar with him and I got a chance to play with him at the High Sierra Festival. Man, he's my new hero. I'm going to Chicago in a couple of weeks and I'm gonna call ahead so I can sit down and get a couple of lessons.

-- Karl Denson - Karl Denson (Blue Note Recording Artist)


"Garaj Mahal"

Garaj Mahal have a toe in the 'jam' pool (largely evident in Alan Hertz' 4-on-the-floor drumming, the Medeski, Martin & Wood-via Jimmy Smith organ parts, and the occasional drone-based piece) but these guys can all play their butts off, they have an excellent grasp of songwriting dynamics, and they also know when to stop soloing…A fine long-player overall, lots of surprises.

-- Ken Egbert - Jazz Now Magazine


Discography

Mondo Garaj - Harmonized Records
Live Vol 1 - Harmonized Records
Live Vol 2 - Harmonized Records
Live Vol 3 - Harmonized Records

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

What do you get when you put together four first-class musicians with resumes that include playing/recording with Sting, Steve Kimock, John McLaughlin, Bela Fleck and Chick Corea? You get Garaj Mahal. This amazing 4-piece band consists of Kai Eckhardt (bass), Fareed Haque (guitars), Alan Hertz (drums), and Eric Levy (keys). Each member of Garaj Mahal is a seasoned artist with reputations worthy of individual praise.

Brought together in 2000 as a super jam session, they have captured the hearts of music lovers across the nation with their ability to draw out serious "shut-up-and-listen" type grooves. Their musical experience allows them to constantly push the envelope of composition and improvisation; but their music doesn't stop there. Their unique blend of funk, jazz, fusion and blues with a tasty world music flare makes their sound profoundly different than any currently on the scene. Nominated for a “Jammy” in 2003, they are gaining the indisputable respect of many of the music industry's finest leaders.

Recalling some of the artists with whom Garaj Mahal and some its members, individually, have shared the stage during the years reads like a "who's who" in the jamband music scene: Trey Anastasio, Michael Kang & the String Cheese Incident, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Steve Kimock Band, moe., Stanton Moore, Bela Fleck, Les Claypool's Frog Brigade, the Jazz Mandolin Project, the Slip, Robert Walter's 20th Congress, Umphrey’s McGee, Medeski Martin and Wood and more.

Garaj Mahal has recently released their first studio album, Mondo Garaj, to wide acclaim. We will be back in the studio this year to work on our second. Besides studio work, we are supporters of the live music community and encourage taping of our shows for trade throughout the scene. Next time they come to your town be sure you check them out… You won’t regret it!!!