Metaraga

A rich mix of Indian strings, percussion and western accessibility takes place on the two violin team of Purnaprajna Bangere and David Balakrishnan on the front line, bassist Jeff Harshbarger and tabla player Amit Kavhekar on this richly hued collection. The evocative tablas lead into a richly textured lilt on "Syzygy" and a more traditional Central Asian drone and harmonics takes place o n"Abhogi Varnam" and the meditative "Fibration." A three part "Triality" includes some amazing rapid fire soloing by Bangere paced by Kavthekar's finger work, some folksy tones on a boppy "Movement I" and a classical Indian drone for "Movement II". Most intriguing is a take of John Coltrane's "Alabama" with guest Robert Walzel on clarinet for a tour de force of passion, pulse and explorations. A taste of musical masala.