The influence of Indian music on jazz these days is readily apparent in the work of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef and others. If only to hear one of the chief sources of their inspiration, Ravi Shankar, this album is worth an attentive listen. When he sent me this LP our editor opined that I would probably be fascinated by the contents. Indeed I am, at least by the first side which has a much wider appeal than the extremely formal and overlong raga taking up over half the playing time. The presence of the gifted flautist Paul Horn on several of the (a) tracks does make this abstruse music easier on Western ears. The listening challenge is presented on several levels. To start with one has to adjust to the rather peculiar sound of Shankar’s sitar (a most complex instrument comprising 25 strings) and then there is the problem of the different compositional rules, scales and manner of improvisation employed within the form. The accompanying instruments are the five-stringed tamboura and the tabla, a pair of hand drums equivalent to jazz bongos.
After several playings it becomes clear that Shankar and his men are undoubtedly brilliant musicians with phenomenal ears and technique whose capabilities enable them to improvise imaginatively for long periods. Yet despite all these assets, I am bound to agree with Gerald Lascelles’ succinct summing-up of their music. Namely that ‘there is a monotonous element which even the fascination and beauty of the sitar improvisations cannot completely overcome.’ It is this very drone which has driven me away from so much of John Coltrane’s post-1960 work – the sameness and repetition that clothe the bulk of his performances. Agreed there are elements of Indian music which fit jazz very nicely but they must be carefully sifted or they will strangle and stultify their users.
Obviously here is a record of limited appeal, although students of the avant garde will probably find it quite instructive. Personally I feel it stimulating in strictly small doses.
Discography
(a) Tala Rasa Ranga; (a) Dhun; (a) Tabla-Dhawani; Song From The Hills; (a) Tala-Tabla Tarang; (a) Gat Kirwani (19¼ min) – (b) Raga Multani (19¾ min)
(1) Ravi Shankar (sitar); Paul Horn (flt); Penelope Esterbrook (sitar / tamboura); Harihar Rao (tabla-tarang / dhorak); Sam Chianis (santoor); Phil Harland (tabla / kartal); N. C. Mullick (tamboura). Hollywood, 1965. (b) Ravi Shakar (sitar); Alla Rakha (tabla); N. C. Mullick (tamboura).
(Fontana TL 5285 33s. 1d.)
