Private release
Indus Red (US,2003)***'
Jim Feist studied for some time tabla with several tabla masters in India. For his group Indus Red he plays tabla, pakawaj, percussion, harmonium, tanpura, bamboo flute, keyboards, with Bill Alletzhauser : acoustic guitar track 1, 6, electronics on 1 ; Zach Mechlem plays banjo on tr.5, guitar on 3 ; Johnny Ruzsa plays flute on 3 ; Ric Hordinski plays guitar, drum loops, mixing on 8.
I could hear rather quickly that lots of the compositions came forth from well played tabla or percussive ideas, but most often in a cooperative form with a melody. It is as if the album consists of inspired visions which came directly from studying Indian tabla and which resulted into an ‘infusion’, a western typed idea to Indo-Fusion. Different to the string-lead raga compositions, this collection of tracks are not improvisations with melody on rhythmic patterns, but are rhythmic themes, in a complex colourful form, which include some melody in it. Different also, to any Western compositions where themes evolve and change, the rhythmic theme in its complexity just leaves some room for some small rhythmic variations within that theme. The tracks change quickly enough to make this work perfectly.
I will take a few tracks out of it. First track, “Serpent Dance” uses a very quickly played amplified violin improvisation with bass and tabla. “Mataji’s Smile” with harmonium, Indian percussion and banjo seem to have something of a Pakistani/middle eastern/or belly dance flavour in it. “rhythmic talk” is a fantasy on the specific Indian vocal technique imitating rhythms.
Two of the last tracks, are more trance-inducing remixed tracks, with additional electronic rhythms, a form which is an easy choice for a percussionist to make. This is of course a bit more dance-floor related, even when not too pushing to be defined so.
The album sounds rather short (38 minutes), but convinced me from start to finish, and hangs well together.
