Ganesh: Flippomusic

Since the days of John Coltrane’s scales and Yusef Lateef’s double reeds, improvisers have found plenty of fertile ground at the intersection of Indian/Middle Eastern music and jazz. With Flippomusic, keyboardist Dave Flippo’s Chicago-based ensemble makes its pilgrimage-with not especially memorable results. Ganesh’s particular flippoformula trades substance for exotic atmosphere and big fusion theatricality, which dooms this venture from the outset. The corny elephant roars and rinky-dink synthesizer chords announce as much at the start of the first tune. Flat solos and hand drumming awkwardly layered over preprogrammed percussion only reinforces early conclusions.