Trilok Gurtu: percussion
Carlo Cantini: violin
A percussionist of extraordinary virtuosity and absolute class, Trilok Gurtu has, throughout his over forty-year career, attracted an impressive array of world-class artists. From John McLaughlin—who helped establish him as a soloist in his trio—to Joe Zawinul, Jan Garbarek, Bill Evans, Pharoah Sanders, Dave Holland, and the Oregon, with whom he toured the world, all were captivated by Trilok’s masterful sense of rhythm. With his unique genius, he played a crucial role in shaping some of the most beautiful works of his colleagues and mentors, including John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, Dave Holland, and Jan Garbarek. Blending Western and Indian techniques, Gurtu has developed a distinctive style and sound that, since the mid-'90s, has made him a dominant force in popularity rankings among percussionists. Trilok Gurtu continues to define and redefine his place among the greatest innovators of percussive art of all time. While his approach to performance and composition is not strictly stylistic, it is rooted in a deep and solid understanding of many global styles. His drumming and compositional style are universal, personal, and fueled by immense passion and rigorous discipline.
Naturally, Trilok is deeply rooted in Indian tradition, which is reflected in his numerous collaborations with some of India's biggest musical names: his mother, Shobha Gurtu (a true star of Indian classical singing and a constant source of inspiration), Zakir Hussain, L. Shankar, Shankar Mahadevan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, the Misra brothers, and Sultan Khan. Over the years, world music has risen to the status of a distinct genre, and Trilok has carved out his own niche within it, performing and recording alongside Salif Keita, Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo, Neneh Cherry, Omara Portuondo, and Huun Huur Tu. His methodical and effective collaborations led BBC Radio's Rita Ray to dub him a “serial collaborator.” In Italy, he has performed with Ivano Fossati, Marina Rei, Pino Daniele, and DJ Robert Miles, with whom he co-created the 2004 album Miles Gurtu, as well as Stefano Bollani and Paolo Fresu. In 2010, he played on the album "Piano Car" by minimalist composer Stefano Ianne. He also contributed to the ethno-electronic music project "Tabla Beat Science".Trilok’s boundless versatility has been instrumental in countless projects, including the Grammy-winning album "Gracias" by Omara Portuondo and collaborations with Adriano Celentano, Marcus Miller, Angelique Kidjo, Bill Laswell, Sheila E, Tigran Hamasyan, Pedro Javier Gonzalez, Gianna Nannini, Nils Petter Molvær, Carles Benevent, and legendary guitarists such as Pat Metheny, Terje Rypdal, Vernon Reid, David Torn, Ralph Towner, Andy Summers, and Larry Coryell.
Born in Mumbai in 1951, Trilok was introduced to music and tabla at an early age by his prestigious mother, Shobha Gurtu, a renowned singer known as the "Queen of Thumri" and the daughter of a famous sitar player. In the early '70s, he took his first steps into the emerging world music scene in Italy with Aktuala before venturing into jazz under the mentorship of Don Cherry and Charlie Mariano. In 1988, he debuted with his own group, finally presenting his compositions on his first solo album "Usfret", which greatly influenced many musicians. By the mid-'90s, young Asian artists in London, such as Talvin Singh, Asian Dub Foundation, and Nitin Sawhney, recognized him as their mentor, and his work gained renewed appreciation. That same year, Trilok joined the Mahavishnu Orchestra and its leader John McLaughlin, playing a pivotal role in the John McLaughlin Trio for four electrifying years. In 1993, he toured with his own trio to promote his new album "The Crazy Saints", featuring guest appearances by Joe Zawinul and Pat Metheny. Audiences were mesmerized by his compositions, which seamlessly blended intricate Indian rhythms and chants with modern jazz and rock elements. The following year, the band expanded into a quartet, embarking on an extended tour that included a U.S. coast-to-coast run and over 40 shows across Europe. By then, Trilok had evolved beyond his early years; his seasoned musicianship had harmoniously fused with his innate showmanship. His performances astonish with their intensity, creativity, virtuosity, and infectious charisma. Throughout the late '90s, his band, The Glimpse (formed in 1996), grew and evolved, branching out from its deep-rooted Indian acoustic traditions. By the end of the decade, they were performing worldwide, sharing festival lineups with megastars like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and R.E.M., as well as world music legends such as Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Cesaria Evora, and Salif Keita. His albums "Kathak", "African Fantasy", and "The Beat of Love" are direct reflections of these years, cementing his place in world music with a fresh sound that retains the essence of his earlier work while expanding its reach. Collaborations with Neneh Cherry, Salif Keita, Angelique Kidjo, and Oumou Sangare further enriched his recordings. In the early 2000s, his band welcomed guests like Nitin Sawhney, Angelique Kidjo, Salif Keita, and Wally Badarou for their live performances. During this time, Trilok also participated in prestigious solo performances and contributed to albums by John McLaughlin, Pharoah Sanders, Nitin Sawhney, Lalo Schifrin, Gilberto Gil, Bill Laswell, and Annie Lennox. The release of "Remembrance" in 2002 was a milestone for Trilok, featuring stellar contributions from Shankar Mahadevan, Zakir Hussain, Ronu Majumdar, and Shobha Gurtu. The album received unanimous critical acclaim, and, coupled with extensive European tours, led to his second nomination for the BBC World Music Awards and an EMMA. The following years saw relentless touring, and in 2004, he released his acclaimed eleventh album, "Broken Rhythms". As always, rhythm and his signature drumming were at the core of the album, enhanced further by performances from Tuvan throat singers Huun Huur Tu, the Arké String Quartet, and the extraordinary guitarist Gary Moore. His U.S. tour included a concert at San Francisco’s Stern Grove Festival before 20,000 spectators. Between 2006 and 2007, Trilok recorded and performed with the Malian musicians of the Frikywa Family and the Italian Arké String Quartet. He released the brilliant "Massical" in 2009 and the ambitious "21 Spices" in 2011, featuring Simon Phillips and the NDR Big Band. In 2013, he released "Spellbound", a tribute to his mentor and dear friend Don Cherry. The album prominently features the trumpet, with performances by Nils Petter Molvær, Paolo Fresu, Matthias Schriefl, Ibrahim Maalouf, Ambrose Akinmusire, Hasan Gözetlik, and Matthias Höfs on compositions by Trilok as well as jazz legends Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie. He continues to perform with percussion maestro Martin Grubinger and the legendary Jan Garbarek.
Trilok often plays kneeling on his right leg, controlling the hi-hat pedal with his left foot. In this setup, he replaces the bass drum with a small tom fitted with a trigger to replicate its sound, assigning traditional bass drum roles to his left hand.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed album "Talking Tabla", since 2016, Trilok has been presenting an extraordinary solo event where audiences have the rare opportunity to engage directly with him, gaining insight into his musical vision and percussive techniques. This breathtaking show captivated everyone at his FolkClub concert in March 2018 for our 30th-anniversary season! With Trilok on stage, on this special occasion, the talented violinist, composer, arranger and producer from Mantua Carlo Cantini.
Missing this gem of our 36th season would mean missing the chance to say in the future: “…I was there!”
