Curry and Quartertones

\"Curry and Quartertones\" is the seventh track from the collaborative album Mumtaz Mahal, released on May 23, 1995. The composition features a fusion of Indian classical music and blues, performed by chitravina artist Narasimhan Ravikiran, blues musician Taj Mahal, and mohan veena player Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

The track runs for 2 minutes and 47 seconds. The album Mumtaz Mahal emerged from a cross-cultural project initiated by Water Lily Acoustics, a label specializing in world music and acoustic recordings. The label produced the album in CD format, capturing live studio interactions between the artists.

The title \"Curry and Quartertones\" reflects the blend of Indian microtonal (shruti-based) improvisation and Taj Mahal’s blues-rooted vocal and instrumental phrasing. Ravikiran contributed chitravina passages rooted in Carnatic raga structures, while Bhatt incorporated Hindustani slide guitar techniques on the mohan veena. Taj Mahal provided vocals and guitar, merging Delta blues elements with the Indian classical framework.

The album Mumtaz Mahal received attention for its experimental fusion of genres, though specific reception details for \"Curry and Quartertones\" remain undocumented in widely accessible sources. The track exemplifies the album’s broader exploration of improvisational dialogue between Indian classical and African American musical traditions.

No additional production credits, alternate versions, or live performances of the track are verified in available records. The album cover and liner notes credit Keshav Proag as producer, with recording sessions held in Madison, Wisconsin.