from Modern Drummer Presents Drum Nation Volume One, released January 13, 2004
“Mad Tea Time Part 1” - STEVE SMITH AND ZAKIR HUSSAIN
“Mad Tea Time Part 2” - STEVE SMITH AND ZAKIR HUSSAIN

Steve Smith - Drums
Zakir Hussain - Tablas
George Brooks - Tenor sax and Tamboura
Fareed Haque - Sitar Guitar
Kai Eckhardt - Bass

Written by George Brooks and Steve Smith
Earth Brother Music BMI, Vital Information Publishing ASCAP
Recorded live in the studio with no overdubs.
Produced by Steve Smith
Co-produced by George Brooks and Mark “Mooka” Rennick
Recorded December 30, 2002 and Mixed January 2, 2003 by Mark “Mooka” Rennick and Jason D’Ottazio at Prairie Sun Recording, Cotati CA
Assisted by John Anaya
Intern Josh Shaddock
Photo of Steve Smith and Zakir Hussain by Zac Palmarini

When the offer came to submit a track for this project, I wanted use the opportunity to record a duet with Zakir Hussain, the man that I believe is the greatest drummer in the world. Zakir and I have been recording and touring together in George Brooks' group, Summit, as are all the players featured on “Mad Tea Time”. Rhythmically the tune is based on some Indian drum compositions and rhythms that I’ve learned since developing an interest in Indian drumming in 2001. The melodic material in “Mad Tea Time” is derived from rag Madhuvanti, a complex mode, which in India, is often played in the late afternoon (high tea time). George and I collaborated on the writing. I brought in most of the rhythmic ideas, George composed the melody/harmony, and Fareed Haque and Kai Eckhardt helped us flesh out the arrangement. Zakir Hussain helped it all come to life with his brilliant concept, sound and virtuosic tabla chops. Rhythmically the piece features “drum compositions” -- complex unison drum parts, “tihai’s” -- rhythmic phrases repeated three times resolving to “one,” and “reductions” such as the opening “cow’s tail” which starts with groups of seven repeated three times (it’s common to repeat rhythms three times in Indian music) and works it’s way down -- six, five, four, three, two, ending with the tihai “takita dhaa - takita dhaa - takita dhaa.”

When I play with Zakir I use my Sonor Jungle Kit, a small drum set with a 16” bass drum, and I use “bundled rods” instead of sticks because the sound blends well with the tablas without being overpowering. I’ve been experimenting with the technique of pitch bending, simulating the pitch bending of the bayan (the left tabla drum). In this piece I used the left beater of my double pedal to alter the pitch of my bass drum in a couple of places. Enjoy! - Steve Smith

Steve Smith thanks Zakir Hussain for your inspiring presence and playing, George Brooks for your unending flow of strong musical ideas and dedication to this project, Kai Eckhardt and Fareed Haque for your incredible musicianship and fitting this project into your crazy schedules, and “Mooka” Rennick for your abundance of enthusiasm, fantastic studio and superior engineering chops.