Buddy Rich and Ali Rakha - Rich A la Rakha

This has got to be one of the most successful attempts at “indo-jazz.” Unlike some of the Mahavishnu Orchestra stuff it doesn’t seem too much like a new age gimmick, whatever the artwork might suggest. Instead you just get two percussionists, clearly having a whale of a time, interacting across cultural boundaries in fun new ways . In that sense it feels like a genuine musical experiment. There are a couple of extremely playful moments in Rangeela where Rakha sets out a pattern and Rich, imitates it, adapting the tonal variations of the tabla to a Western drum kit. It's a very rare moment of rhythmic call and response. The result is something exceptionally unique and brilliant! The album is definitely at it’s most exciting when the two drummers are interacting from tabla to drum kit, but when Rich is working out on the Dholak it’s still some pretty great rhythmic entertainment. Music doesn’t get much more fun than this!

http://www.discogs.com/Buddy-Rich-And-Alla-Rakha-Rich-La-Rakha/release/2464083