Quartet’s unique melodies mesh jazz and Indian

The ensemble, with guitarist David “Fuze” Fiucznski, drummer Dan Weiss and bassist Francois Mouton, will be in concert Thursday, Feb. 28, and March 1 at the Outpost Performance Space.

	Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Gamak WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 and March 1 WHERE: Outpost Performance Space, 210 Yale SE HOW MUCH: $30 general public, $25 students and Outpost members in advance at the Outpost or by calling 268-0044 or at the door

Gamak takes its name from the Indian word “gamaka,” which Mahanthappa said refers to melodic ornamentation.

“I’ve always thought it’s a very complex ornamentation and that (complexity) is one factor that leads to a fullness of sound, even from a Western perspective,” he said in a phone interview. “In Indian music, there’s no harmony. It’s melody and rhythm, and counterpoint to some degree.”

Mahanthappa said his compositions on “Gamak” were written to some degree with Fiucznski in mind.

“He (Fiucznski) has some really unique abilities as a guitarist. He plays double-neck guitar, one fretted, one fretless. He’s studied nonconventional tuning systems,” he said. “We’re able to play melodies together in a unique way. But I’m not saying he’s the only one who can play them.”

Mahanthappa acknowledged that Weiss and Mouton also were in his thoughts when he was organizing the music. Weiss and Mouton have been part of Mahanthappa’s acoustic quartet for many years.

The saxophonist said he and Fiucznski had been planning to do something together right about the time they joined Jack DeJohnette’s band.

“Doing that for two and a half, three years we were able to develop a musical relationship in Jack’s band,” Mahanthappa said.

So when he figured what and how to write for the “Gamak” project, it was easy.

In 2011 and 2012, the Jazz Journalist Association named Mahanthappa the Alto Saxophonist of the Year.