Raga Jazz, the latest release by the Ray Spiegel Ensemble on the Simla House label, connects Indian classical, devotional, and folk melodies and rhythms with Jazz and Latin bass and drums in the unique style Ray has forged with the ensemble's first release, Sum and Kali. Ragas on the Indian slide guitar and sarangi sing beautiful melodies over carefully crafted grooves, with John Benitez' bass and Tani Tabbal's drums locked in sync with Ray's tabla. Barun Kumar Pal (slide guitar) provides soaring and beautiful melodies and solos, while complimented by the incredible Sarangi (bowed string instrument known in India as the "voice of 100 colors" ) played by master Ramesh Misra. Stan Scott plays the acoustic 6 string guitar on several tracks and also the harmonium, the acoustic keyboard of India.
RAY SPIEGEL-Bandleader, Tabla, composer
biography:
Born in New York city of Japanese/American ancestry, Ray Spiegel was trained in the Punjab Gharana (style) of tabla playing the by late master of the tabla Ustad Alla Rakha. He has also received important training from Ustad Zakir Hussain, and Pt. B.S. Ramanna of New Delhi. He has performed and recorded in the U.S. and India as both accompanist and soloist, appearing with well-known artists such as: Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain (tabla), Ravi Shankar (sitar), Sultan Khan (Sarangi), Aashish Khan, Geoffery Lipner, Stephen James, Buddhadev Das Gupta, Steve Oda, and Ken Zuckerman (Sarode), Vidyadhar Vyas, Raka Mukherjee, Warren Senders, Stan Scott, Sheila Dhar, Esha Bandopadhaya, Pran Nath, LaMonte Young, and Balram Puri (vocalists), Irshad Khan, Manilal Nag, Mita Nag, James Pomerantz, and Partha Bose (Sitar), Paul Alexandre John, Steve Gorn and Ragunath Seth (Bansuri flute), Barun Kumar Pal (Hindustani Guitar), and Chitresh Das (Kathak dance).
Outside the realm of traditional Indian Classical Music, Ray leads his group, the Ray Spiegel Ensemble, composes and records film and television soundtracks, and performs with many various artists. His past recording and performing credits include: The Grateful Dead, Patty Smyth, Mickey Hart/Diga Rhythm Band, Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience, Tor Dietrichson, Robert Bly, Najma, Bhagavan Das, Gabrielle Roth, L. Shankar (violin), Bon Jovi, Paul Winter, Danilo Perez, Richie Flores, John Benitez, Mike Diamond (Beastie Boys), Karl Berger, John Cooper, Carlos Federico, Karl Perazo, and Bill Cosby. Ray is also the founder of Simla House, an independent record label.
Ray Spiegel's Discography (selected):
Diga Rhythm Band DIGA [Round Records RX-LA600-G/RX-110] 1976. Re-released on CD:[RYKODISC RCD 10101] 1988
The Grateful Dead - SHAKEDOWN STREET [Arista ALB6-8321] 1978
Sri Gour Goswami & Steve Gorn - THE INDIAN BAMBOO FLUTE [Lyrichord LLST 7387 Re-released on CD: LYRCD 7387] 1985
Tor Dietrichson - GLOBAL VILLAGE [Global Pacific Records WK 40728] 1987
Zakir Hussain & THE RHYTHM EXPERIENCE [Aspen Records APN 307 CD] 1987 &[Moment Records MRCD 1007] 1991
Tony Dagradi - SWEET REMEMBRANCE [Gramavision 18-8707-1] 1987
Patty Smyth - NEVER ENOUGH [Columbia CK 40182] 1987
Paul Alexandre John - JOURNEY OVER INDIA [Flying Bird Music] 1990
Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - TONGUES [Raven] 1995
Manilal Nag - LIVE IN WOODSTOCK [Raga-215] 1995
Kenny Werner/SYDA YOGA- RAGA TARANGA [SYDA Foundation] 1995
Celtic Twilight - VOL. 3: LULLABIES [HEARTS OF SPACE CD11107] 1996
Noirin Ni Riain - CELTIC SOUL [Living Music LMUS 0031] 1996
Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - ZONE UNKNOWN [Raven] 1997
Ray Spiegel Ensemble - SUM AND KALI [Simla House 001] 1998
Patty Smyth - GREATEST HITS;FEATURING SCANDAL [SONY CD65616] 1998
Danilo Perez - CENTRAL AVENUE [Impulse! IMPD279] 1998 (Grammy Award Nominee)
Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa - THIRAKWA Bombay [Simla House002]1999 (produced by Ray Spiegel)
Vidyadhar Vyas - COLORS OF THE NIGHT [Simla House 003] 2000 (produced by Ray Spiegel)
Dave Tofani - AN AMERICAN GARDEN [Solowinds SW1701] 2001
Mickey Hart - THE BEST OF MICKEY HART [Rykodisc38525] 2002
Paul Alexandre John - DUSK MONSOON [Simla House 004] 2002
Karl Berger & Friends - STILLPOINT [Double Moon DMCHR 71029] 2003
Barun Kumar Pal- RAGAS ON SLIDE GUITAR [Simla House 006]2003 (produced by Ray Spiegel)
Ray Spiegel Ensemble - RAGA JAZZ [Simla House 007]2004 (produced by Ray Spiegel)
Read more...