After studying with Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, guitarist Peter Walker recorded two raga-inspired instrumental folk albums in the late '60s on Vanguard, but although he served as the musical director for Timothy Leary's infamous "celebrations," he didn't achieve widespread renown. He was nevertheless an influential musician, and the new release from Tompkins Square, "A Raga for Peter Walker," is an attempt to resuscitate both his career and his legacy. It features four new tracks from Walker himself -- his first recordings in 37 years -- as well as tributes from guitarists who were influenced by his work, including James Blackshaw, Jack Rose and Thurston Moore, whose "Dirt Raga" illustrates the connection between Walker's droning compositions and the dissonances of Moore's guitar work in Sonic Youth.
-- T.B.
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