Vijay Iyer and Tirtha

Progressive-jazz pianist and bandleader Vijay Iyer has referenced Indian musical traditions previously in his music, but seldom as directly and sinuously as in Tirtha, his new trio with Chennai guitarist Prasanna and Hyderabad tabla player Nitin Mitta. No blithe fusion unit, Tirtha forges a respectful coexistence of Eastern and Western modes on its new self-titled CD.