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"...he's an open-minded musician who embraces jazz, Indian classical music, abstract improvisation and Asian pop, a dazzling percussion virtuoso, an accessible entertainer."

Trilok records with Adriano Celentano

27 Sept 2011 - Trilok has recorded a track with Adriano Celentano for Adriano's new album which is due for release this winter.

Adriano Celentano is an Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, film director and TV host, who has released forty albums.

Trilok and Tigran - London 24th Sept 2011

With his burning sense of rhythm, percussion wizard Trilok Gurtu connects with trailblazing Armenian pianist Tigran Hamasyan. Tigran 'plays piano like a raga – the next Keith Jarrett,' says Grammy-winner Gurtu, whose illustrious list of past collaborators includes Jan Garbarek, John McLaughlin, Nitin Sawhney and Yo Yo Ma. Witnessing Tigran in concert prompted Herbie Hancock to declare, 'Amazing! He is now my teacher.'

"You never know what you'll get… fabulous sounds and rhythms, but the context is always new." (The Guardian on Trilok Gurtu)

Performing at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London on 24 September

"Shobharock" in the UK Guardian's Top 100 Jazz Playlist!

17th June 2011 - "Shobharock" from the 1987 album "Usfret" has just been listed in The Guardian newspaper as one of the top 100 tracks ever in their "Jazz" booklet - a comprehensive booklet on the history of Jazz.

»read more on The Guardian website

Latest Release

"21 SPICES"

'21 Spices' sees two giants of the percussion world team up in a unique collaboration with Germany's NDR Big Band - tabla specialist Triok Gurtu and rock drummer Simon Phillips.

Personnel: Trilok Gurtu (percussion & vocal), Simon Phillips (drums), Michel Alibo (bass), Roland Cabezas (guitar), NDR Bigband conducted by Joerg Achim Keller

» read more

Trilok Gurtu: Stirring the Big Old Pot

Interview with Trilok at All About Jazz by Ian Patterson - 27/04/11

All About Jazz: Trilok, 21 Spices is a fascinating recording, could you tell us how this project came about?

Trilok Gurtu: Being a percussionist/drummer, there's not much faith from the promoters. So, for a long time I had to convince them that this is something very new, these influences of Indian and African music, not only related to jazz, but open to everybody. It took a while. Then I spoke to Nils Landgren, the trombone player from NDR and one or two other people and slowly the penny dropped. Once they had listened to some of the tunes then it worked...

» read full interview on the All About Jazz website

Trilok performing with the Jan Garbarek Group in Modena - 29th March 2007 - photo: © Elio Guidi

About Trilok

Trilok Gurtu is a master of Indian music, tabla, percussion, and Western drumming -- who plays a unique hybrid East-West drum set up.

He is also a visionary composer whose musical adventurousness has led him to creative fusions of Indian music with jazz, rock, classical, and ethnic music from all over the world. Well known in the jazz community through his collaborations with Don Cherry, John McLaughlin, Joe Zawinul, and Pat Metheny, Gurtu first became known to US audiences as a member of the world/jazz fusion band Oregon.

Trilok has recorded many albums and received numerous prestigious nominations and awards including:

» Best Artist - Asia/Pacific Nominee, BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards 2002, 2003, 2004

» Carlton Television's Multicultural Music Award 2001

» Best Percussionist in DownBeat's Critics Poll 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000 & 2001

» Best Percussionist in Drum Magazine Readers Poll 1999