Martin Standke

Ragawerk: Ragawerk

by Chris May
August 12, 2022

Fusions of jazz and Indian raga go back to the mid-1950s, when the London-based Indian composer John Mayer began experimenting with the concept and, in the early 1960s, went on to form Indo-Jazz Fusions with the alto saxophonist Joe Harriott. Meanwhile, across the pond, John Coltrane became so fascinated with raga that he named his son after sitar player Ravi Shankar. Fast forward to the 1970s and British guitarist John McLaughlin raised the game with Mahavishnu Orchestra and Shakti.