Karsh Kale

We last heard from Karsh Kale (pronounced Kursh Kah-lay) with the release of Breathing Under Water, the talented producer/composer/percussionist's genre blending collaboration with Hindustani music's heir apparent, sitarist Anoushka Shankar. But apart from that recording, and a DJ set here and there at Science Club or Bossa, the District has not seen Kale perform in concert since 2003's Asian Massive tour. That will change on July 4, when the fireworks on the Mall will segue into sonic fireworks at the Rock and Roll Hotel for Return of the Asian Massive, and fans of the burgeoning global electronica scene should take note.

Kale, who is based in New York, has spent the past decade fusing his roots in the Indian classical tradition with modern electronic music. On Friday, he will be performing with his frequent partners-in-crime, the MIDIval Punditz, the New Delhi-based DJ/production team of Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj.

"We heard each other's demo tapes back in ’97 and we actually met in London, we were both playing there," Kale said. "Soon after that I was getting ready to work on my Realize album and since then we've done a lot of stuff together."

"There are basically three types of shows that I do," Kale continued. "At [New York's] Joe's Pub, it's about getting a bunch of great musicians together and just jamming, then there are the DJ sets. With this, we take what we do in the studio and mix that with a live sound."

MIDIval Punditz

The live performance consists of Kale, a world class tabla player, who also plays drumset and guitar, with the Punditz providing programmed grooves, along with classically trained ghazal singer, Vishal Vaid, who also plays keyboards. Friday's set will feature music that Kale and the Punditz have worked on over the past six months, including material from Vaid's forthcoming debut album, as well as a re-scoring of the Bruce Lee classic, Enter the Dragon.

"We're trying to make live the whole concept of electronic music," Raina said. "It’s evolved over a period of time and it’s been totally designed by us for our own use. All the songs are broken up into loops and we're also taking in the inputs from the vocals and tabla, sampling them live, and playing them back. An infinite number of manipulations are possible."

Kale offered a simpler version of what lies in store on Friday. "I think people should come expecting an experience," he said, "especially if anyone is familiar with this aesthetic."

The Return of the Asian Massive Tour stops at the Rock and Roll Hotel this Friday, July 4. Also performing will be local DJs, Unbuckled 7 alum DJ v:shal kanwar and DJ Samiah. $20 door/$15 advance. Advance ticket sales close at midnight on Thursday night, July 3. Doors at 8:30 p.m.