The Rain

Ghazal names the trio of Kayhan Kalhor on the kamancheh (Iranian spike fiddle), Shujaat Husain Khan on sitar and voice, and Sandeep Das on tabla. Blending North Indian and Persian musical traditions, they transcend the Swiss stage of this live recording from 2001. The Rain features three improvisations on traditional motifs. In “Fire,” Khan’s voice starkly emotes beyond cultural and linguistic borders. “Dawn” casts more prayerful light on Kalhor, whose bow is like wind passing through grass. Finally, “Eternity” finds Das enhancing the freedom of the two melody makers through his balance of progression and regression.