Drums of North & South India

Drums of North & South India is a 1968 Indian classical music album by Ustad Alla Rakha. The album features solo tabla performances that demonstrate rhythmic structures from both northern and southern Indian traditions. Alla Rakha, a renowned tabla player, presents compositions in distinct talas (rhythmic cycles) to highlight regional variations in Indian percussion.

The primary release of the album includes five tracks. The tracklist comprises Tala Sawarib (11 Matras), Ek Tal (12 Matras), Variations in Khanda Chapu, Tala (5 Matras), and Jhap Tal (10 Matras). The album also includes a performance in Teen Tal, a 16-matra cycle widely used in Hindustani classical music. The recordings emphasize improvisation within fixed rhythmic frameworks, a characteristic of tabla solo performances.

The album was released under the World Pacific label. The exact recording date and additional production details remain unconfirmed. Alla Rakha performs all tabla parts, showcasing his technical precision and mastery of complex rhythmic patterns. The album serves as an instructional and performative document of Indian classical percussion traditions.