Horizontal Life

'Horizontal Life' is the debut album from guitarist / composer / producer Roy Venkataraman's production name of Buzz Bahdur, and is released on his own, independent imprint Carter Bench Music.

The album shimmers with engaging ambient grooves, electric jazz fusion journeys, heavenly synthesized textures, otherworldly soundscapes, lush downtempo grooves and late night chill out moods - all pulled together with gorgeous musicianship and craft.

Bahdur, who originates from Bombay, India and now lives in Auckland, is one of the most unique South Asian voices to emerge in the last few years. He is typical of the new generation of artists fluent in multiple genres of music like jazz, funk, reggae, hip hop, blues and downtempo. 'Horizontal Life' showcases not only his outstanding guitar work, but also his excellent ear for production.

Some of his influential experiences include playing guitar in Bob Marley's Wailers, recording with the likes of Chris Jones [Patti LaBelle], TSOP drummer Keith Benson [Gloria Gaynor, Teddy Pendergrass] and many more musical luminaries, as well as writing and producing music for TV adverts, movies, Maori TV, Coca Cola, Wrigleys, Maggi etc., and having performed at the Pasifika Music Festival and played guitar on Brooke Fraser's multi-platinum selling album 'What To Do With Daylight'. His experience and eclectic influences create a very personal, rich and diverse non-genre specific sound.

'Horizontal Life' balances intricate ensemble writing with picturesque melodies and superb improvisational work by some of the world's top jazz artists, including Randy Brecker [Steely Dan, etc.], Adam Holzman [Miles Davis, Chaka Khan], Rachel Z [Wayne Shorter, Al DiMeola] and Jay Rodriguez [Groove Collective, Prince], alongside some of NZ's finest jazz musicians such as multi-Tui award winning pianist Kevin Field, Kim Paterson and Chris Neilson.

'Horizontal Life' is a bed of sensual delights including "Trance Migration" with a cool ambient feel, Indian Sufi flavours, floating dreamlike guitars and ethereal guitar lines; "Tilly" is mysterioso downtempo with sexy muted trumpet, guitar and sax; "New World Bliss" is a beautiful chill out symphonic track with ecstatic synth sol; and the album culminates with "Meeting In Caracas", a gorgeous orchestral finale invoking many nights of spiritual and physical love, as Bahdur's guitar gently weeps and cries with joy.

"A beautiful journey, an album of vast sonic spectrum, heartfelt, inventive, unpredictable and unique.”
- Clive Stevens