In the realm of North Indian classical music, families have historically carried forth the traditions of specific lineages of singers, musicians and dancers teaching and innovating through the generations, sons (and more recently daughters) learning the secrets of their trade from fathers and grandfathers before them. Mita Nag hails from such a family, her father being Pandit Manilal Nag and grandfather the legendary sitarist Pandit Gokul Nag of the Vishnupur Gharana, or style of sitar playing of ragas. Mita Nag began her training in sitar starting as a very young child and has steadily practiced and progressed to this day, when she is recognized as a leading exponent of sitar among her generation. Mita maintains a busy concert and recording schedule performing all over India and internationally as well. She is also well known for her duet concerts with her illustrious father, Manilal Nag. The expertise, wisdom, sensitivity, and technical mastery of her sitar playing is sure to enthrall and enchant all listeners. Ray Spiegel~Tabla; After a lifelong fascination with music, Japanese-American percussionist Ray Spiegel began playing the tabla as a young teenager in New York. He was introduced to the tabla by John Cooper, a composer/pianist who had traveled to India and collaborated with Indian classical musicians, especially Ustad Ali Akbar Khan in the mid nineteen sixties. He began lessons with Pandit Shankar Ghosh at the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, CA in 1970. Ray toured India with John Cooper’s East West Chamber Ensemble in 1971 and studied tabla with Sri B. S. Ramanna for one year in New Delhi. He then studied with Ustad Zakir Hussain for several years beginning 1973, and was introduced to Zakir’s father, Ustad Alla Rakha in 1975. He began a twenty five year relationship with Alla Rakha as his guru until the great master’s passing in 2000. Ray has performed and/or recorded with many of India’s great artists including: Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain (tabla), Ravi Shankar (sitar), Sultan Khan (Sarangi), Aashish Khan, Geoffery Lipner, Stephen James, Buddhadev Das Gupta, Steve Oda, and Ken Zuckerman (Sarode), Vidyadhar Vyas, Raka Mukherjee, Warren Senders, Stan Scott, Sheila Dhar, Esha Bandopadhaya, Pran Nath, LaMonte Young, and Balram Puri (vocalists), Irshad Khan, Manilal Nag, Mita Nag, James Pomerantz, and Partha Bose (Sitar), Paul Alexandre John, Steve Gorn and Ragunath Seth (Bansuri flute), Barun Kumar Pal (Hindustani Guitar), and Chitresh Das (Kathak dance). Outside the realm of traditional Indian Classical Music, Ray leads his group, the Ray Spiegel Ensemble, composes and records film and television soundtracks, and performs with many various artists. His past recording and performing credits include: The Grateful Dead, Patty Smyth, Mickey Hart/Diga Rhythm Band, Zakir Hussain and the Rhythm Experience, Tor Dietrichson, Robert Bly, Najma, Bhagavan Das, Gabrielle Roth, Shankar (violin), Bon Jovi, Paul Winter, Danilo Perez, Mike Diamond (Beastie Boys), Karl Berger, John Cooper, and Bill Cosby. Ray is also the founder of Simla House, an independent record label. Ray Spiegel's Discography (selected): Diga Rhythm Band DIGA [Round Records RX-LA600-G/RX-110] 1976. Re-released on CD:[RYKODISC RCD 10101] 1988 The Grateful Dead - SHAKEDOWN STREET [Arista ALB6-8321] 1978 Sri Gour Goswami & Steve Gorn - THE INDIAN BAMBOO FLUTE [Lyrichord LLST 7387 Re-released on CD: LYRCD 7387] 1985 Tor Dietrichson - GLOBAL VILLAGE [Global Pacific Records WK 40728] 1987 Zakir Hussain & THE RHYTHM EXPERIENCE [Aspen Records APN 307 CD] 1987 & [Moment Records MRCD 1007] 1991 Tony Dagradi - SWEET REMEMBRANCE [Gramavision 18-8707-1] 1987 Patty Smyth - NEVER ENOUGH [Columbia CK 40182] 1987 Paul Alexandre John - JOURNEY OVER INDIA [Flying Bird Music] 1990 Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - TONGUES [Raven] 1995 Manilal Nag - LIVE IN WOODSTOCK [Raga-215] 1995 Kenny Werner/SYDA YOGA- RAGA TARANGA [SYDA Foundation] 1995 Celtic Twilight - VOL. 3: LULLABIES [HEARTS OF SPACE CD11107] 1996 Noirin Ni Riain - CELTIC SOUL [Living Music LMUS 0031] 1996 Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors - ZONE UNKNOWN [Raven] 1997 Ray Spiegel Ensemble - SUM AND KALI [Simla House 001] 1998 Patty Smyth - GREATEST HITS;FEATURING SCANDAL [SONY CD65616] 1998 Danilo Perez - CENTRAL AVENUE [Impulse! IMPD279] 1998 (Grammy Award Nominee) Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa - THIRAKWA Bombay [Simla House002]1999 (produced by Ray Spiegel) Vidyadhar Vyas - COLORS OF THE NIGHT [Simla House 003] 2000 (produced by Ray Spiegel) Dave Tofani - AN AMERICAN GARDEN [Solowinds SW1701] 2001 Mickey Hart - THE BEST OF MICKEY HART [Rykodisc38525] 2002 Paul Alexandre John - DUSK MONSOON [Simla House 004] 2002 (produced by Ray Spiegel) Karl Berger & Friends - STILLPOINT [Double Moon DMCHR 71029] 2003 Barun Kumar Pal- RAGAS ON SLIDE GUITAR [Simla House 006]2003 (produced by Ray Spiegel) Ray Spiegel Ensemble - RAGA JAZZ [Simla House 007]2004 (produced by Ray Spiegel)