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Extraordinary rhythms and sounds are what Trilok Gurtu has been extracting from various percussion instruments for decades. This however, according to critics, is not the only key to his great success. His genius, as they say, lies in the variety of contexts in which he places his music. He is a true musical adventurer. 

Trilok Gurtu

Born in Bombay, virtuoso Trilok Gurtu was voted best living percussionist in the 1999 Drum Magazine poll. His career started with the John McLaughlin trio. He later played with the likes of Don Cherry (father of Nene), Jan Garbarek and Pat Metheny. Towards the end of the 1990s his band The Glimpse was performing at biggest world festivals, supporting such artists as Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and REM. In 2002 his album Remembrance was released and won him BBC World Music Award and EMMY nominations. Remembrance was a breakthrough in the industry – fans and critics don’t cease to enthuse over this album even today. It is rare for a musician so deeply rooted in his own musical tradition (majority of his 20 albums are the best proof of that) to succeed commercially in the music industry. Yet Trilok’s sense of rhythm is considered best in the business, which has led to innumerable collaborations with musicians from all around the world. BBC once called him the "serial collaborator" because of the unabated desire of the musical world to „play with Trilok”.
trilokgurtu.net

Photo: Jos L. Knaepen