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Diga Rhythm Band

This percussion-based group is led by Mickey Hart (drums for Grateful Dead). The band consists of 11 members: Mickey Hart (traps, gongs, timbales, timpani), Zakir Hussain (tabla, folk drums, tar), Vince Delgado (dumbek, tabla,  talking drum),  Jordan Amarantha (congas & bongos), Jim Loveless (marimbas), Ray Spiegel (vibes), Arshad Syed (duggi tarang, nal) and 4 other tabla players: Peter Carmichael, Aushim Chaudhuri, Tor Dietrichson, Joy Shulman.^[2]

In 1971 Zakir Hussain selected 9 most talented percussion students at Ali Akbar Kahn College of Music to join him in the Tal Vadyum Rhythm Band, which performed once each quarter. The music from India had traditional rhythms with weird traditional time signatures, but they did not have a sitar. When Mickey Hart joined in 1975, he added American influence. They performed (backing Jefferson Starship) in San Francisco (at Winterland) on May 16 & 17 under a new name: Diga Rhythm Band^[3]. Early the next year they recorded their only album <i> Diga </i> at Hart's studio (The Barn in Novato, California) and Round Records released it on vinyl in April, 1976^[1] (It was remixed and released on CD by Rykodisc Records in 1990). Later in 1976, they released the single “Razooli/Happiness is Drumming”.^[2]

The most complex track is also the best & the longest (12:55): “Magnificent Sevens”. My next favorite tracks are also long: “Tal Mala” (12:48) and “Sweet 16” (8:03). The 2 short tracks also have guitar, played by Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead: “Happiness is Drumming” (3:17) and “Razooli” (2:50). Only the shortest track has vocals, which are sung by Jim McPherson, Kathy MacDonald and David Freiberg.

In 2008, John Metzger (in The Music Box) reviewed <i> Diga </i>, saying it was "far ahead of its time"^[1]. His comment suggests the album’s progressive nature! This is indeed verified by the use of different instruments, the Far Eastern influence on the rhythms, the odd time signatures, the variations within the songs, the expertise of the drummers, the increased song lengths for several songs, and the non-love song lyrics. The fact that the front cover does not show the band  also shouts prog.

Discography

<I> Diga </i> April 1976 on Round Records. 

References

1.       Diga, on Wikipedia. Retrieved March 5, 2018.

2.       Diga at the Grateful Dead Family Discography. Retrieved March 5, 2018.

3.       Diga CD liner notes