Rudresh Mahanthappa

The Colorado-raised alto saxophonist Rudresh Mahanthappa took his inspiration from Kadri Gopalnath who invented a Carnatic technique for the alto sax and has evolved into one of his most exciting heirs.

The empathy is so strong it is sometimes hard to tell their musical thoughts apart or to identify compositions from improvisations.

It began more like a seance than a jazz concert. With the rhythm section of Lexington’s Osland/Dailey Jazztet playing under him last night at the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Rudresh Mahanthappa played an Eastern-infused wail in a register so low and open, one had to do a double take to confir

Steve Coleman’s mind-boggling intricacies and the sultry raga-based speed-freakery of John McLaughlin’s Shakti are immediate points of reference.