Guitar virtuoso and Northwestern alumnus Fareed Haque used to think it was cool to wear a brightly colored plastic apron and play percussion on a barbeque at his band’s shows.
“I guess we got more conservative over time,” said Eric Levy, keyboardist for Garaj Mahal. “The last time we dressed up was Halloween. I wear a tuxedo every New Years. That’s just my joke of ‘Oh, I could be playing at a corporate party right now.'”
Haque graduated from NU in 1986 with a music major and concentration in classical guitar. He has had long stays playing in the Middle East and Europe. Currently a resident of south Evanston, Haque has participated in special recording projects for the School of Music and has performed as a guitar soloist with the jazz ensemble. But he began his music career in the clubs of Chicago, applying his classroom lessons to live gigs.
“I would very often have to go on the road and by junior year I was going all across the country,” said Haque. “My teachers were very understanding and flexible, as long as I got my work done and got As on the exams. I was able to get my career going while still an undergrad.”
If you automatically think of the style of Phish or String Cheese Incident when you hear the term “jam band,” Garaj Mahal will redefine that conception. Garaj Mahal’s songs, and song titles for that matter, are as diverse as the band members themselves. “Mondo Garaj,” for example, begins with a slap bass line that drives the song forward until it falls into a conversation between a schizophrenic arcade-sounding guitar and a spunky DJ, before morphing back into the earlier recognizable hook. It sounds a little like what would happen if Flea from The Red Hot Chili Peppers suddenly took an interest in classical and world music and jammed with jazz musicians in a European nightclub.
The 18-minute “Meatless Patty,” however, is mellow and jazzy, led by light keyboard and guitar progressions until it is taken away by a guitar solo nine minutes in. Even for the concertgoers who are too cool to dance, the lively songs require a minimum of enthusiastic foot tapping, if not a full out arm-waving hippy dance.
Garaj Mahal’s only studio album is 2003’s “Mondo Garaj,” which was recorded in 2000.
“It’s a really interesting album for us from a historical perspective because it was our first encounter when we recorded (it),” said Levy. “Usually you at least play a handful of gigs to get to know each other first. We’ve been a band ever since that recording.”
All four members of Garaj Mahal had impressive musical resumes before they even formed the band. Bass player Kai Eckhardt has toured the world since learning the instrument in his hometown, Mainz, Germany. Both he and drummer Alan Hertz played primarily in northern California, while Haque and Levy played and studied music in Chicago. Their fusion of experience playing arguably two of the best music scenes in the country results in a powerful combination.
Levy studied under Fareed at Northern Illinois University before later playing on stage with his former teacher. He began playing in Chicago immediately after leaving Northern Illinois when he was told by his professors he had “nothing left to learn.”
“We’re all so incredibly diverse,” said Levy. “I think that’s our strength and weakness in a lot of ways. Garaj Mahal is really the first thing I’ve been in that’s an actual band. It’s a democracy, four of us on the road, and we know each other so well.”
The individual band members have played with countless contemporary legends including Sting, Bela Fleck and John McLaughlin. Garaj Mahal has also played with the top jam bands of today, such as Umphrey’s McGee, moe. and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe.
The band’s three live albums showcase its well-regarded live performances.
“When I’m up there playing at its best and everything is clicking, I really don’t have to think,” said Levy. “We’re all on the same plane and everything is flowing naturally. I’ve worked for years to develop my skills, but God gave me those skills and the question is whether I’m going to use those skills to self-glorify or to say thank you to God every time I play.”
According to Levy, Eckhardt’s thoughts take on a more worldly bent.
“When he’s up there playing music he’s getting serious and meditative, thinking about children starving in Africa and world problems,” said Levy.
Garaj Mahal soon will be recording a second album and plans to tour Europe.
“We figure out right now we have enough music to make five CDs,” said Haque. “We have a lot of creativity and good vibes in the band. We’re definitely in a growth phase.”
