Karuna Supreme, recorded in 1975, is one of the earliest true fusions of Indian music and jazz, and remains one of the most successful.
John Handy's incredible mid-'60s quintet ably demonstrated his aptitude for modal playing, and
Ali Akbar Khan had long been one of Indian music's greatest ambassadors. Like
Khan,
Zakir Hussain was also the son of one of India's finest musicians, and had been exposed to jazz as well from an early age (his father,
Alla Rakha, recorded with
Buddy Rich in addition to his long association with
Ravi Shankar). The way these players find the common musical ground from their respective backgrounds is breathtaking. The album starts with the lively "Ganesha's Jubilee Dance," which has a simple but unforgettable melody that
Handy and
Khan use as a springboard for some amazing soloing.
Handy's improvisations are melodic and effortless, and some of the rhythmic flourishes supplied by
Ali Akbar Khan are incredible.
Zakir Hussain is equally stunning, reacting instantly to whatever the soloist is doing, offering both support and drive to the piece. The title cut is slower and more contemplative, but no less beautiful, and a nice complement to the animated "Ganesha's Jubilee Dance." "The Soul and the Atma" is a bit more reminiscent of Indian classical music, with its alap-like introduction, but once the tabla kicks in, the structure opens up for more amazing improvising. It starts kind of slowly, but gradually builds intensity over the course of its 20-plus minutes. The level of communication among the players throughout this session would be difficult to surpass. This is one of those rare East-meets-West recordings that absolutely succeeds at every level. Highly recommended.