This stunning LP, an instrumental fusion of Indian raga, Spanish flamenco, and American folk guitar, pretty much encapsulates the burgeoning East-West musical cross-pollination that was in the air in 1967, and deserves a much wider audience. Peter Walker, originally from Boston, traveled widely—to Mexico, Spain, and Africa—studying the music of the world, especially flamenco, and became part of the New York City folk scene, befriending the similarly brilliant Sandy Bull. On a trip to San Francisco, he met Janis Joplin, but it was there that he first heard Ravi Shankar in concert, and devoted himself to studying the raga. Upon returning to the East coast, he met Timothy Leary, who was so impressed with Walker that he made him musical director of the ‘Celebrations’ at his Millbrook estate.
This record features nine original compositions and a cover of “Norwegian Wood”, which takes the Beatles’ first track to feature a sitar and unravels it into a peaceful raga. Walker, backed with subtle percussion and the occasional flute, uses the drones and escalating tension of the raga as a backdrop for his airy solos, which never lose the melodicism of flamenco. Overall, the effect is placid and meditative, and the album title seems to pretty much hit the nail on the head. Where classical Indian music can often sound rhythmically or melodically disorienting to the novice, Walker’s synthesis of Spanish and American tones with Indian form is a spellbinding and accessible blend of the three. According to Walker’s own liner notes, his American raga “employs the Indian concept of starting with a drone, adding a scale based on the drone, then a melodic line based on the scale, then weaving, reweaving, and interweaving the melodic line so that a freely improvised piece is constructed.” This is placid, cerebral stuff, and highly recommended.
MP3: "White Wind"
Peter Walker: Rainy Day Raga (Vanguard, 1967)
Side One:
- Morning Joy 3:46
- Norwegian Wood 4:16
- White Wind 7:40
- Bianca 3:07
- Spring 2:59
Side Two:
- Sunshine 3:26
- Rainy Day Raga 6:25
- Road To Marscota 5:47
- April In Cambridge 3:12
- River 5:12
[Note: This album is often listed as being from 1966. The excellent new edition on Ace’s Vanguard Masters includes newspaper clippings and reproductions of the record labels which make it clear that the record was issued in 1967.]
Comparable Albums
Walker’s own 1969 follow-up, Second Poem to Karmela, is just as good as this one. Fans of American folk guitar saints John Fahey and Robbie Basho will find plenty to enjoy here (try, for ’67 comparison, the former’s Days Have Gone By and the latter’s The Falconer’s Arm I). Even more similar to Walker’s style is the brilliant Sandy Bull, whom I discuss here). Ravi Shankar’s career and discography are daunting, but all of the few ‘50s and ‘60s records of his I’ve heard offer good examples of his dense, intricate and intense style. Another jazzier record which brings guitar and eastern instrumentation together is Gábor Szabó’s Jazz Raga.