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Artist: Trilok Gurtu
Category: Asia/Pacific
Long before the UK's infamous Asian Underground scene emerged in the late 1990s, Trilok Gurtu was creating his own experimental fusions between Indian music, rock, jazz and even African styles. It's no surprise that he's now cited as a major influence by artists like Nitin Sawhney, Asian Dub
Foundation and Talvin Singh.
Born 50 years ago in Bombay, Gurtu grew up surrounded by music. His grandfather played the sitar and his mother Shobha Gurtu is still a revered singer of Indian classical music. They fostered his natural desire to join in family jam sessions and he began to play percussion instruments from the
age of six.
As a teenager he was soon drawn to foreign sounds and claims to have wanted to play the tablas like Jimi Hendrix played the guitar. After travelling in Europe for two years, he returned to Bombay to work as a professional musician on Bollywood soundtracks, rubbing shoulders with Asha Bhosle among others.
During the 80s and 90s Gurtu lived and worked in Europe and the US, playing and recording with a wide range of performers. Among the most prominent were jazz fusionists Oregon, Brazilian percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, the John McLaughlin Trio, Pat Metheney and Joe Zawinul. He even
toured with classical musicians.
He began making solo albums in 1986, and by 1998 had reached a turning point. The 'African Fantasy' album took him away from jazz and towards his most fully realised fusion of African and Indian sounds. Guest appearances by Oumou Sangare, Angelique Kidjo and Zap Mama's Sabine Kabongo helped it outsell all his previous efforts. This year he followed it with 'The Beat Of Love', continuing the association with Kidjo and adding Salif Keita. It also featured several Bollywood musicians and vocalists as well as pieces co-written with Wally Badarou.
Trilok Gurtu's drum kit is a sight to behold at his gigs. He often kneels to play his customised east/west hybrid of drums, gongs, cymbals, shakers, bells and chimes. His playful approach to music seems to rub off on the audience. When it comes to sing-along time, they seldom miss a beat.
Biography by Jon Lusk, November 2001
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