The infamous Hindustani Jazz Sextet, often written about and rarely heard. In the summer of 1966, percussionist Ken Watson (we lost him way too soon) and I were in our third year of studying tympani with master percussionist and composer William Kraft of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Percussion Institute in Studio City. Don Ellis was building his Hindustani Jazz Sextet and was in the main room with Hari Har Rao and some other players sitting on the rug in a circle just listening to Hari. Waiting for my lesson, I was practicing the drum set in another room, playing in odd meters just for fun as usual, having thrilled to the way guys like Joe Morello did it so tastefully. Don heard me and told Bill he wanted me to join the band. But, alas, I was on my way into the United States Marine Corps. So Kenny Watson stepped in on drums with these amazing musicians and this challenging music. After Ken, the wonderful Steve Bohannon stepped in and Chuck Domanico came in on bass. The tune itself is in Don’s favorite, but typographically unfriendly, 3 and two-thirds / 4 time (11/8). The melody incorporates actual written out quarter-tone lines.
The personnel are:
Don Ellis – trumpet
Hari Har Rao – tabla, dholak, sitar
Emil Richards – vibes
Dave Mackay – piano
Bill Plummer – bass
Ken Watson – drums