I immediately started to take tabla lessons from Aloke (note: I had no illusion of becoming a tabla player but I did think it could help my counting and drumming). On one of our first lessons Aloke started asking me about session work in LA and I helped him meet a few key students and his talents lead him to more and soon he moved to LA. Aloke's ensemble also included Jason McKenzie on trap kit, young Jason had great hands and so I also began grabbing Jason for early morning reading and rudimentary drum lessons. Jason had just left NTS and studied under Ed Soph and this lead to me having a few lessons with Ed and later attending the summer drum camp at NTS where I met Gary Chafee (a turning point in my drumming). Jason continued to study tabla in India after Aloke left Austin and has become very very good tabla player and when in town he often plays with MasticA live.
Patt Mastelotto interview by Jeff Duke - Krimson News (Feb 15, 2001)