Tabla player Badal Roy renowned for his work with Miles Davis and Dave Liebman has died aged 77

Bangladeshi percussionist Badal Roy known for his work with Miles Davis and Dave Liebman among many others has died at the age of 77. His death was confirmed by his niece Piali Roy. Roy grew up in Pakistan, studied computer programming and earned a Masters Degree in statistics. In the late-196os he travelled to New York to further his postgraduate studies and found himself playing tabla in night clubs and restaurants. Discovered by John McLaughlin, he played on McLaughlin's My Goal's Beyond, and as well as McLaughlin, Miles Davis and Dave Liebman also recorded with Phaorah Sanders. He toured with Miles for 3 years. With Liebman Roy was on Lookout Farm and later he went on to work with Yoko Ono in the 1980s as well as stints undertaken with Jon Hassell, Ornette Coleman and Bill Laswell.

Tags:

A bustling highly disciplined hard bop-centred record are first impressions here from tenorist Diego Rivera. With Alex Sipiagin joining Rivera in the front line steering the rhythm section of pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Boris Kozlov and drummer Rudy Royston in a straighatead direction there is also a pervasive latin twist throughout the record with 'Rasquache' in this regard an early highlight.

The group finds plenty of historic jazz resourcefulness because the record is steeped in 60s sounds. So Rivera on 'Teru' delivers a very old fashioned tenor statement on the Wayne Shorter ballad that featured on Adam's Apple and another significant moment on the album. Tracks also include a version of Kenny Dorham's 'Escapade' which Joe Henderson covered on Our Thing.

Rivera's own songs include 'Canción De Cuna' inspired by the injustice of separation along the south west border of the US and Rivera's experience as a Mexican American is an important component in the themes this fine tenorist chooses to write about. Clear composition is key to the album's success and there is a lot of heart in what the band play and why it connects as an appealing and immersive listen. Out in February. Diego Rivera photo: Anna Yatskevich

Tabla player Badal Roy renowned for his work with Miles Davis and Dave Liebman has died aged 77

Diego Rivera, Mestizo, Posi-Tone Records ****