The encounter [between Ananda Shankar and Jimi Hendrix] has been revisited countless times in interviews and articles; this one appeared in Time Out:

‘Jimi Hendrix and I had a mutual friend, who told me that he’d heard some of my uncle Ravi Shankar’s records. Apparently, Hendrix had been convinced that my uncle’s music must have been inspired by drugs. My friend suggested that perhaps he engineer a meeting between us so that I might convince him that this wasn’t the case. I was honoured because Jimi Hendrix was such a star.

So, for about eight to ten days, I met him every morning while he was still straight. At the time, he was staying in this luxurious LA hotel and he had hired the whole of the top floor, with security making sure that no one but his guests could come up. He had about 50 friends from Seattle there all the time, drinking champagne, ordering steak and caviar, all at his expense. And I would just sit there watching all this happen. We would play together as well. He loved improvising. One small incident that happened at this time is when he took me to a rock festival. I went to his room and he emerged wearing nothing, with two ladies nearby dressing him up and helping him decide what to wear. As he got ready he would take drugs with his back to me. I didn’t see exactly what he was snorting, but to be honest, I never disapproved – who am I to say stop taking those drugs? Nevertheless, I think he didn’t want to offend me.’

[Ananda] recounts another instance of Hendrix’s thoughtfulness. On his way to perform at a concert, he handed Ananda a hanger of his costumes. Ananda was a little offended - did he think of him as a servant or assistant? However, he didn’t object. They walked out of the hotel and piled into waiting stretch limos which conveyed them to the venue. As they got out of the cars, security separated Hendrix from the others; only Ananda, carrying the star’s clothes, was allowed to accompany him backstage! Even in his stoned state, amidst all his other preoccupations, Jimi Hendrix had remembered to get him in; otherwise he’d have been lost in a crowd of 10,000 people!

Jimi Hendrix suggested that they do an album together. Ananda frankly admits that it was a hugely tempting offer. He knew it would bring him instant stardom. But something inside him insisted that his first album should be wholly his own work, that he should start his musical journey standing firmly on his own two feet. So he took a rain cheque on the idea; but Jimi died soon after, shockingly and unexpectedly; and that particular collaboration never happened.

From the album notes of Remembering Ananda Shankar.Click here  for the album

Click here for ‘A Music with No Name - Remembering Ananda Shankar (1942-1999)’