Simla House Inc. 
Ray Spiegel Ensemble : Sum and Kali (US,1997)***°
I listened and enjoyed this release already a few times before I got myself settled down for a review. It can be categorized under the "Indojazz" genre, with on some tracks a bit extra direct attention to the interesting percussion. Most basic rhythms however are in relaxed modes. It starts as classical Indian raga, then continues with the second track in a relaxed unpretentious Indojazz style. The percussion at first is only just fitting, and it's not until a bit further on that there is an extra attention to more creative sounds with the percussion, especially with the tabla, with the additional high tones. In the next track, "Double Bhakti", and especially a bit further into the title track we can hear even better the individual style and fine craftsmanship of the leader of the band, the Japanese American percussionist, Ray Spiegel. In "Sum and Kali" the melodic creativity of the percussion is at its most surprising. "Colaba Blues" before that is an interesting original blues / jazz crossover combination still with the continuation of the Indian music flair, especially in the melody line of the violin and flute. "Ashes on the beach at Puri" uses some Jamaican ? like rhythms, with reggae rhythm guitar and a relaxed basic rhythm foundation / layer with a jazzy openness for improvisation for the Indian sarod, and a few other instruments. Also "Three point Five" with droning harmonium and tanpura builds up a beautiful percussive tension. The last track, a song, "Kali Ma" is an interpretation of a traditional song that in style could have derived as much from a medieval / Indian or Middle eastern source as from a creation of a similar shared experience. Many participants make this track a perfect crossover, with world, jazz, and Indian elements and can be appreciated from a jazz fusion, psychedelic trance progressive, world music and even other interest point of view. One of the most outstanding, energetic tracks, with some sax solo at the end too.
The album is a fine listening experience. It became finalist in the Crossroad Music Awards: 1998 Contemporary World Category.
Ray Spiegel's biography :
"Ray Spiegel was trained in the Punjab Gharana (style) of tabla playing for over 20 years by the late master of the tabla Ustad Alla Rakha. He has also received training from Ustad Zakir Hussain. He has performed and recorded in the U.S. and India as both accompanist and soloist, appearing with such well known musicians and vocalists such as: Alla Rakha, Ravi Shankar (Sitar), Sultan Khan (Sarangi), Aashish Khan (Sarode), Buddhadev Das Gupta (Sarode), Vidyadhar Vyas (Vocalist), Manilal Nag (Sitar), Ragunath Seth (Bansuri flute) and Barun Kumar Pal (Hindustani Guitar).
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 including The Grateful Dead (Shakedown Street), Patty Smyth (Never Enough/Greatest Hits featuring scandal), Noirin Ni Riain (Celtic Soul), Mickey Hart/Diga Rhythm Band, Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience, Robert Bly, Najma, Bhagavan Das, Gabrielle Roth, Shankar (violin), Bon Jovi,Paul Winter, Danilo Perez, Mike Diamond (Beastie Boys), Karl Berger, and Bill Cosby. Ray is also the founder of Simla House, an independent record label."
