Many people who listened to my music will have noticed that what I am doing is NOT raga. It would be a ridiculous lie if I claimed it was. There is a very specific idea in mind with this. While I take considerable liberties in this, there is a concept behind what I play; even though it does not resemble raga.

One must understand that I envisioned another possibility with the sitar. Many fine Indian masters have played raga on western instruments - and have even modified the instruments to suit their own needs. Now, its our turn. Granted the idea is in its infancy. But it is necessary. No culture or art remains "pure" with the passage of time. I am not interested in preserving Indian culture (and am content in letting those better qualified than I do so). I am interested only in the effects of music, and in laying the groundwork for a future music which is neither east nor west. Raga is an important part of this, and I cannot overemphasize the importance of raga. There is simply nothing like it. But it is not exclusive to the act of musical expression.

Consider this; in jazz, a great deal of emphasis is placed on individual expression. This is, to be sure, not alien to raga. But jazz employs both melodic and harmonic means of expression. And who can deny the great musical and artistic possibilities so far demonstrated and yet to be exploited? The European classical tradition, despite improvisation being foreign to it, has accomplished many marvelous things.

And there are many eastern forms of music that have many other things to offer.

We live in a time when east and west are getting closer together. This is due in part to "globalization": a phenomenon I oppose (this is the subject for a different blog). But when cultures meet, there is at first a backlash; then their components find a means of unifying in to a new form. This is happening with music now. Forces have been set in motion that cannot be stopped.

Many people will take issue with what I said here. So be it. Know that the result of any invective will be to inspire me to work toward the goals I already set for myself.