Akash Taala (Sky Rhythm): Tribute to John Mclaughlin and Shakti

This is just a jam to a tabla track which is obviously inspired by John Mclaughlin and Shakti. There might be one or two phrases that kind of work.
Mclaughlin always used light strings and very low action, so it is quite hard work on .012-.052 gauge strings, with not a very low action, to try to play at those levels. As far as I know, only Al Di Meola has done it, and perhaps Luca Tihai.
This was an experiment, so will post something better when I get round to it.

19/02/2010: I should add that the improvisation, such as it is, truly has its "head in the clouds", following a "sky rhythm" indeed. Unfortunately, this "sky rhythm" has very little to do with the quite brilliant tabla playing of Bikram Ghosh, which is the rhythm you actually hear.

05/06/2011: Apologies. Is quite brilliant mridangam playing of Trichy Sankaran.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John Mclaughlin
• Shakti
• L Shankar
• Zakir Hussain
• T.H. Vikku Vinayakram
• Al Di Meola
• Strunz and Farah
• John Etheridge
• Nadaka
• Ravi Shankar
• etc..

[derritrane]

@sonesh

Actually, it seems I was right about Bikram Ghosh. The track is

"Carnatic Tabla in Adi Tala" from Bikram Ghosh's "Talking Tabla", which, together with Trichy Sankaran's "Laya Vinyas", can be found on the two-CD reissue set, "The Language of Rhythm: Drumming from North and South India" (1998, Music of the World)

The CDs are separate, they don't feature T.Sankaran & B.Ghosh actually playing together. Well worth getting, nevertheless.

[sonesh]

where did you find out that the Mrdangam was by Trichy Sankaran? Can you forward me the source, because I want to purchase the CD/LP with them both playing? Thanks and bless.