TRILOK GURTU - God Is A Drummer
Jazzline 77075
Trilok Gurtu (drums, tablas, percussion, bass programming, vocals); Frederik Köster (trumpet); Christophe Schweizer (trombone); Sabri Tulug Tirpan (keyboards); Jonathan Cuniado (electric bass); Emre Meralli (violin); Nitin Shankar (additional percussion); Kaplana Patowary (vocals); Zara (vocals); Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie
Recorded Phina Music Studio, Hamburg; Digitube Studio, Mantova; Tim Dudek Studio, Studio Morpheus, Istanbul in 2019
When you think of all the jokes made against drummers (Google them), it’s refreshing to find an album title that stands up for these put upon musicians. Master percussionist Trilok Gurtu says he called his latest album God Is A Drummer, because, “Without the drummer, nothing will move. And without movement, the world will stop. The Earth rotates, which is movement. The waves in the ocean, the leaves falling from trees, people talking to each other -- it's all movement, it's rhythm, it's energy. So, with every movement, I say, god is a drummer."
This is Gurtu’s 20th album as a leader, a man whose music embraces classical Indian, World, Jazz and Funk, and who has played with a raft of artists including, John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, Simon Phillips and Jan Garbarek. In addition to his skills on drums and percussion, Gurtu is a master exponent of Konnakol (Indian scat vocals). He also composed all the music on this album.
If Gurtu was looking for an alternative title for the album, then ‘Dedication’ would be very appropriate, because not only is the album dedicated to Gurtu’s guru, Ranjit Maharaj, but every track is dedicated to a person, place or thing that is significant in Gurtu’s life. These include family members, departed musical associates, a movie whose soundtrack he worked on, and the City of Hamburg, where his current band hails from.
There are a number of guest artists including, Indian singer Kaplana Patowary; Turkish singer Zara; Turkish violinist Emre Meralli; percussionist Nitin Shankar and the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie. Although there are eleven tracks on the album, four of them are short musical interludes (the longest lasts for 56 seconds) with Gurtu on solo percussion. Each interlude has a title linked to the word connection.
The opening number, ‘Josef Erich’ is dedicated to Weather Report’s Joe Zawinul (the title consists of his forenames) and gets the album off to an exciting start. The uptempo number has a catchy melody played on trumpet and trombone, with Gurtu’s drums and percussion driving it along. It also includes a sparkling piano solo by Tirpan and some sleek bass programming by Gurtu.
‘Obrigado,’ a joyous sounding number dedicated to the Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, is a Latin-tinged track featuring soaring vocals by Indian singer Kaplana Patowary, with strings played by the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie adding drama to the music. ‘Holy Mess’ (dedicated to drummer Tony Williams) has a dramatic opening and a funky backbeat. The track moves through varying tempos and includes Gurtu’s Konnakol vocals and a fine trumpet solo by Köster. ‘Madre’ is dedicated to Gurtu’s mother, the Indian classical singer Shoba Gurtu, and his mother-in-law, and features intense vocals by Zara. Her cry-like vocals during the opening section sound like a lament. ‘Samadhan’ is a lovely dream-like ballad, with the trumpet playing the main melody. Gurtu’s vocals - mixed low in the track - occasionally doubles up the melody. ‘Indranella’ is solo effort by Gurtu, who plays all the instruments, including drums, synthesiser and percussion. This lively number features lots of percussion, Konnakol vocals and electronic sound effects.
The closing number, ‘Try This’ is a cinematic-sounding track that could easily be part of a film soundtrack. Starting with strings and tumbling percussion, this heavily syncopated tune is punctuated by strings and woodwind from the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie, which heighten the excitement of the music. Tirpan plays a short but majestic piano solo, before the tracks finishes with Gurtu’s Konnakol vocals accompanying the percussion and string section. It's a superb ending to a very satisfying album.
Reviewed by George Cole
Jazzline 77075
Trilok Gurtu (drums, tablas, percussion, bass programming, vocals); Frederik Köster (trumpet); Christophe Schweizer (trombone); Sabri Tulug Tirpan (keyboards); Jonathan Cuniado (electric bass); Emre Meralli (violin); Nitin Shankar (additional percussion); Kaplana Patowary (vocals); Zara (vocals); Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie
Recorded Phina Music Studio, Hamburg; Digitube Studio, Mantova; Tim Dudek Studio, Studio Morpheus, Istanbul in 2019
When you think of all the jokes made against drummers (Google them), it’s refreshing to find an album title that stands up for these put upon musicians. Master percussionist Trilok Gurtu says he called his latest album God Is A Drummer, because, “Without the drummer, nothing will move. And without movement, the world will stop. The Earth rotates, which is movement. The waves in the ocean, the leaves falling from trees, people talking to each other -- it's all movement, it's rhythm, it's energy. So, with every movement, I say, god is a drummer."
This is Gurtu’s 20th album as a leader, a man whose music embraces classical Indian, World, Jazz and Funk, and who has played with a raft of artists including, John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, Simon Phillips and Jan Garbarek. In addition to his skills on drums and percussion, Gurtu is a master exponent of Konnakol (Indian scat vocals). He also composed all the music on this album.
If Gurtu was looking for an alternative title for the album, then ‘Dedication’ would be very appropriate, because not only is the album dedicated to Gurtu’s guru, Ranjit Maharaj, but every track is dedicated to a person, place or thing that is significant in Gurtu’s life. These include family members, departed musical associates, a movie whose soundtrack he worked on, and the City of Hamburg, where his current band hails from.
There are a number of guest artists including, Indian singer Kaplana Patowary; Turkish singer Zara; Turkish violinist Emre Meralli; percussionist Nitin Shankar and the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie. Although there are eleven tracks on the album, four of them are short musical interludes (the longest lasts for 56 seconds) with Gurtu on solo percussion. Each interlude has a title linked to the word connection.
The opening number, ‘Josef Erich’ is dedicated to Weather Report’s Joe Zawinul (the title consists of his forenames) and gets the album off to an exciting start. The uptempo number has a catchy melody played on trumpet and trombone, with Gurtu’s drums and percussion driving it along. It also includes a sparkling piano solo by Tirpan and some sleek bass programming by Gurtu.
‘Obrigado,’ a joyous sounding number dedicated to the Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, is a Latin-tinged track featuring soaring vocals by Indian singer Kaplana Patowary, with strings played by the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie adding drama to the music. ‘Holy Mess’ (dedicated to drummer Tony Williams) has a dramatic opening and a funky backbeat. The track moves through varying tempos and includes Gurtu’s Konnakol vocals and a fine trumpet solo by Köster. ‘Madre’ is dedicated to Gurtu’s mother, the Indian classical singer Shoba Gurtu, and his mother-in-law, and features intense vocals by Zara. Her cry-like vocals during the opening section sound like a lament. ‘Samadhan’ is a lovely dream-like ballad, with the trumpet playing the main melody. Gurtu’s vocals - mixed low in the track - occasionally doubles up the melody. ‘Indranella’ is solo effort by Gurtu, who plays all the instruments, including drums, synthesiser and percussion. This lively number features lots of percussion, Konnakol vocals and electronic sound effects.
The closing number, ‘Try This’ is a cinematic-sounding track that could easily be part of a film soundtrack. Starting with strings and tumbling percussion, this heavily syncopated tune is punctuated by strings and woodwind from the Junge Norddeutsche Philharmonie, which heighten the excitement of the music. Tirpan plays a short but majestic piano solo, before the tracks finishes with Gurtu’s Konnakol vocals accompanying the percussion and string section. It's a superb ending to a very satisfying album.
Reviewed by George Cole
