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Garaj Mahal played the Abbey bar at the Appalachian Brewery on 10-06-2009 in Harrisburg, PA.  As part of an awesome October schedule by Round Table Presents, Garaj Mahal made their return to Harrisburg on this Tuesday night.

Garaj Mahal are a jazz quartet that jams and improvises throughout the night which makes for a night full of amazing music.  All of the members of the band are accomplished musicians.  If you like jam/jazz music fusion, this band is really inspiring.  Every great jazz group has a great rhythm section and Garaj Mahal is no exception.  Kai Eckhardt,the bass player, and Alan Hertz, drummer, have been playing together for over 10 years together which makes for a really tight rhythm section.

Kai Eckhardt in addition to being a teacher at the prestigious Berkley School of Music has also played with an impressive list of musicians over his 30 year career including the famous jazz guitarist John McLaughlin which was Miles Davis’ guitarist during the Bitches brew era.  Kai’s bass playing style reminds me of Victor Wooten of Bela Fleck And The Flecktones which is a huge complement.

Guitarist, Fareed Haque, was named Guitar Player magazine’s “Best World Guitarist” for 2009.  His classical and jazz guitar licks had melody and were emotional unlike some classicl/jazz guitarists that think that the number of notes yo ucan play is more important.

This show happened to be on the birthday of the keyboard player, Eric Levy.  So the band made all the audience yell Happy Birthday Eric Levy several times during the first set.  After a few technical problems at the beginning of the set, Eric provided the backbeat for the band throughout the rest of the set while also taking on several solos.

You can listen to the show here on the archive by clicking this link.  Thank the tapers!  The setlist (as per the archive link) was as follows:

Set 1:
Banter
Never Give Up
Today *
Kai Bass Solo >
Fareed Acoustic Solo
Chester The Pester (w/Happy Birthday Eric ending)
The Paladin
Intro > Be Dope
When The World Is Running Down

Set 2:
Kai’s Creepy Story
Some Rules Are Meant To Be Broken
Eric Solo > Poodle Factory
Long Form
Who Knows

* w/o Eric who was having technicals with his keyboard.