Miles Davis' So What and Ravi Shankar's Raga Sindi Bhairivi are two pieces which come from entirely separate cultures: So What is prime example of American modal jazz music whereas Raga Sindi Bhairivi is a piece originating in Classical Hindustani music. Despite the diversity of the two cultures and musical backgrounds, both of these pieces have several similarities that have been discussed in this investigation.The improvisational nature of these two pieces also reflects a culture significance for American Modal Jazz music and Classical Indian music. Modal jazz music was created as a response to popular jazz music where everything was tightly regulated by predetermined harmonic progressions. With modal jazz music, this harmonic complexity was somewhat stripped down and therefore gave the improvisers a greater degree of freedom and control of their solos. Modal Jazz can therefore be regarded as a rebellion against regulation due to a longing for artistic freedom. This longing for freedom is expressed as well through the harmonically unregulated, improvisational based music of Classical India, which existed perhaps at a greater metaphysical level due to the religious origins of the music which emphasis the freedom from existence, and transcendence of the soul. Modal Jazz and Hindustani classical therefore both reflect a universal desire for freedom in the human experience.