Shri: ‘Singing Bass’

Hearing award-winning musician Shri performing a solo show at Watford Jazz Junction blew my mind and I was determined to review his latest album.

You can read my review of the delightful afternoon gig here, and I hope you can see why I needed to review Singing Bass.

Shri’s use of his hand-crafted bass guitar is inventive, with a vast array of electronics, using a bow from time to time and switching to bansuri (Indian flutes) from time to time. On Singing Bass, there is a sense of exploring music and his instruments, as well as self-discovery.

Singing Bass opens with Juhu, and already we have the sonorous bass and effects that make this so much more than a solo album. It’ll have you nodding along, or tapping your foot, from the opening bars: the groove is established and then suddenly the bass becomes a solo melodic instrument before the groove returns. Shri’s eclectic cultural background shines through, with elements of jazz, folk and Indian classical music all combining on this and every track.

Shri takes us to a Hilltop and again uses electronics and bass melodies to evoke a setting before he then picks up the tabla for Tablaah and overlays percussion above bass groove and melody. When we reach Strong Gentle Wise, the dextrous bow is out and the melody soars in and around the electronics.

Throughout Singing Bass, Shri seems to explore so many elements of contemporary classical and popular music from around the world. The final tune is the one that he concluded his set with when I saw him in Watford: Peace uses the bansuri flutes and Shri’s bass to take us on a global desire for harmony.

Singing Bass is a joyous, inspired and inspiring album from Shri, who has worked extensively with some of the finest musicians around, including pianist Joanna MacGregor, saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard, the Britten Sinfonia and the incredible Norwegian pianist and composer, Bugge Wesseltoft. Start with this album and then I would encourage you to explore more of his music.

You can find videos of Shri’s playing on his YouTube channel