Marian Zazeela, Pandit Pran Nath

condition (poster): VG (small crease to upper and lower right corner, some yellowing, folded into 3 sections)

14"x11" poster.

CSV note: row 76 has no catalogue, no title, only the two names. The most likely identification is the 1971 Shandar Ragas LP by Pandit Pran Nath, with Marian Zazeela providing the sleeve calligraphy and (with La Monte Young) accompanying tambura. The recording could alternatively be the 1986 Ragas of Morning & Night (Gramavision) on which Zazeela is credited as co-producer.

Assuming the Shandar Ragas: the LP is Pran Nath's first European release, presenting two extended raga performances by the Kirana Gharana master, with La Monte Young and Zazeela on tambura (the long-necked drone instrument). Pran Nath came to New York in 1970 at Young's and Zazeela's invitation; they became his first Western disciples and studied with him for the next twenty-six years. Zazeela's cover calligraphy, magenta ink on cream, has become as iconic an image as the music. The recording established Pran Nath's reputation in Europe and triggered the wave of American minimalist composers (Terry Riley, Don Cherry, Jon Hassell, Lee Konitz, Henry Flynt) who would later study with him.