Clapton, Mohan Bhatt may share dais

Blues fans could be looking forward to some heady music if plans come together for Eric Clapton to jam with Indian musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Blues fans could be looking forward to some heady music if plans come together for Eric Clapton to jam with Indian musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

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Bhatt told The Associated Press he was in touch with Clapton, but it was too early to say when the two might start recording what is likely to be a fusion music album.

"Yes we've talked recently about collaborating, but it's too early to speak of dates," Bhatt said by telephone from the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, where he was to perform Thursday. Clapton "is well versed with Indian music and I have high regard for him," Bhatt said, adding that Clapton had always been interested in the instrument he played.

Bhatt plays the Mohan Veena, which is a version of the slide guitar that assimilates traditional Indian string instruments such as the sitar, sarod and veena.

He won a Grammy along with American guitarist Ry Cooder in 1994 for a world music album, A Meeting by the River. Bhatt said he had been in touch with Clapton since meeting him two years ago at the Crossroads music festival in Dallas.