Vijay won’t be in this particular show. It’s Rudresh’s band (with Rez and Dan). But Vijay and Rudresh are playing in New York (if memory serves me right) on July 7 or thereabouts. Check either of their websites to confirm.

Another great thing to look out for is veteran saxophonist Charles Lloyd’s new setup (featuring master tabla-player Zakir Hussain and drummer Eric Harland) who are billed to play Carnegie Hall in late June. I just picked up the album (called Sangam) and it’s out there, in a beautiful way. Spiritually intense jazz, with a strong influence of pentatonic modes.

All things being equal, I’ll be there. I’m a fan of Rudresh’s work (I have his “Mother Tongue” from 2004). He and Vijay (and “genius” is the right word for this cat- seen him in four coruscating concerts, and there’s no reason whatsoever to revise that opinion) are a breathtaking combination. Not much that’s explicitly Indian in their playing (though Indo-Pak Coalition sounds like it’ll be different) but it’s such informed playing, taking cues willy-nilly from bop, grunge, minimalism, hip-hop and carnatic music. I think the Indian influence in Vijay is more structural- he’s talked about bringing in some of the complex time-modes and phases of ragas into his compositions (to my ears, there’s the spirit of Radiohead and Philip Glass in there as well though, naturally, musicians wince at comparisons).

In Rudresh’s case, the India thing is tonal and phrasal rather than structural- his reedy tone really does evoke South Indian instrumental music, especially the carnatic stuff. It’s an amazing thing that these two found each other. Two of the most brilliant (and musically uncompromising) young jazz musicians in America, and both happen to be desi.

I do think your Coltrane comparison for Rudresh, harmonically speaking, is dead on. It is not relaxing music. But, man, you feel more present to your world after hearing it.

I’ll try to be there tomorrow; thanks for the heads up.