Trilok Gurtu

Born in Bombay, India, percussionist and vocalist Trilok Gurtu links the musical traditions of the eastern and western worlds through his improvisations. Recognition for his command of post-bop jazz arrived from Downbeat magazine, which chose him as "best percussionist" in three critic and popularity polls and stated, "musically, the world is his stage". Jazz magazine Straight No Chaser expressed a parallel opinion, noting, "this music has a transcendental quality and removes any obstacles that lie between western and eastern improvised music." His wide-ranging method has produced partnerships with numerous leading figures. Trumpeter Don Cherry's band included Gurtu from 1976 to 1978, while further work has involved jazz guitarists Philip Catherine, John McLaughlin, Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny and Larry Coryell, rock guitarist David Gilmore, saxophonists Jan Garbarek and Bill Evans, percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, jazz keyboardist Josef Zawinul and classical pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque. Between 1984 and 1988 he belonged to the acoustic jazz fusion group Oregon. A native of Bombay, India, Gurtu comes from a musical family whose members included his grandfather, a well-known sitar player, and his mother, Shobha Gurtu, an influential singer of Indian classical music. After beginning tabla studies at the age of six, he drew international notice in the mid-1970s through appearances with Charlie Mariano and John Tchicai. In 1977 he accompanied vocalist Asha Bhosle at her New York concerts. Following two years of touring and recording with Don Cherry, Gurtu relocated to Hamburg, Germany in 1978. He soon toured with Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine and joined Catherine and Mariano on the album End Of August. During summer 1993 Gurtu and Josef Zawinul toured Europe as a duo and completed the recording Crazy Saints with Zawinul and Pat Metheny. Drum clinics remain part of his schedule, as do classical events presented with modern dancer Carolyn Carlson. Summer 1998 brought a tour alongside Andy Summers and Larry Coryell. African Fantasy reached listeners in the year 2000, followed the next spring by Beat of Love.