Hard-driving African grooves and graceful Indian ragas meet in Natraj's expansive jazz conception and disciplined ensemble playing. In its recent CD, Deccan Dance, "Natraj blends complex tempos and traditions with graceful, unforced virtuosity... a hypnotic, symbiotic tapestry. Fusion is rarely this deep and exotic yet accessible... discover a new world here," declares Paul Robicheau in the Boston Globe. Natraj recently toured West Africa and performed as part of PANAFEST 99, Ghana's major international festival. Other recent appearances include Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH; the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto; the Guelph Jazz Festival, Guelph, Canada; and JazzYatra, Mumbai, India. "We heard the future of jazz... we heard the future of world music... a spellbinding tapestry...a jazz hybrid of celebration and reflection," attests Vinod Advani in The Times of India. Natraj features the raga-influenced soprano saxophone of Phil Scarff; the emotive inflections of violinist Mat Maneri; the warm, nimble solidity of bassist Mich'l Rivard; the multipercussion mastery of Jerry Leake; and high-energy groove of drummer Bertram Lehmann. Join Natraj's email list by sending a message to natraj-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visit www.yahoogroups.com/list/natraj. Contact us at philscarff@natrajmusic.com. Purchase Natraj's CDs on the web at www.cdbaby.com/cd/natraj or www.windjam.com. For gigs and more information, visit www.natrajmusic.com.