Day to Day

There are some parts of the African diaspora – like the US or Jamaica – that are well-known. But the same couldn’t be said of the East Africa-descended Siddi community in India – their towns and villages remain largely isolated from the rest of India, retaining a unique culture. This excellent debut from Sarathy Korwar, a London-based Indian drummer and producer, was conceived from his desire to experience these lesser-known enclaves of East African rhythm within his home country. Central to the album was an extended visit to the Siddi community of Ratanpur, where he recorded its local musicians.

Based mainly in the Gujarat region, the Siddis’ five-drummer polyrhythms and malunga bows set them apart from the rest of India's music. Bringing together recordings of the Siddi musicians with sessions Korwar recorded with his UK-based peers, ‘Karam’ sees Salim Gulam Mohammed's emotive Siddi vocals positioned as the centrepiece of slowly unfurling spiritual jazz. The closer, ‘Mawra (Transcendence)’, features a taut, mesmeric exchange between sax and drums, which holds the Siddi influence more at the margins. Occupying a middle ground between ethnographic recordings and Western jazz composition, Day to Day bridges those cultures with ease.