Trilok Gurtu

[Hal...]

I saw the John McLaughlin Trio in NJ back in '89, I think it was. The trio recorded two albums, one with Kai Eckhardt and the other with Dominique DiPiazza, both of whom are great bassists. When I saw them, however, it was early in the trio's history and supposedly Jeff Berlin was in the band but for some reason was not at the show I saw; I believe he was sick. Fortunately for me, I got to see the great Jonas Hellborg, instead. The dude was amazing. Still, I think the highlight for me was Trilok Gurtu's solo.

Lucky for us, I found a concert from around that time on YouTube and edited it so you can see how amazing Gurtu is.



Seriously, are Indian percussionists the best?




For anyone interested, here's the full concert:

[Dave (in MA)]

[Dave (in MA)]

[walt]

First time i heard Gurtu on record was that 89 concert with McLaughlin And Eckhardt at Royal Festival Hall,London on JMT.I was blown away and searched far and wide for cds of Gurtu playing tabla in the traditional role in Indian raga.I've only found one, so far(i'm sure others exist,).

[Wah3]

Thanks for the video link. I saw the 89 McLaughlin tour at Saratoga Springs. 30 years and hundreds of concerts later, I might still rank it as the best trio show that I have ever seen. The Live at the Royal Festival Hall album is another good document of the tour, albeit audio only. Trilok is amazing on that album.

I’ve gotta dig out Trilok’s Crazy Saints album for a spin.

[Finch Platte]

I just recently discovered TG. I hurried and bought 3 of his discs that I could find- The Beat Of Love, Spellbound and Miles_Gurtu.

Very interesting fellow. Chops for days, multi-instrument-talented, and he's got shloads of discs out: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tril...29/discography

Thanks for the thread- I'll be curious as to what y'all think.

(Anyone willing to share/trade?)

[rcarlberg]

I first learned of Gurtu when he joined Oregon in 1985. Since then I picked up a few of his releases:

• Usfret (1988)
• Living Magic (1990)
• Crazy Saints (1993)
• Believe (1994)
• Bad Habits Die Hard (1995)
• Kathak (1998)
• African Fantasy (2000)
• Miles_Gurtu (2004)

As usual, I like the early stuff best

[StarThrower]

There's another one from the 90s titled The Glimpse which features some excellent material. It's more in the jazz/fusion vein which I prefer. But I like the moody Miles-Gurtu CD as well.

[Hal...]

Thanks for the video link. I saw the 89 McLaughlin tour at Saratoga Springs. 30 years and hundreds of concerts later, I might still rank it as the best trio show that I have ever seen.

I know I would if I hadn't seen The Free Spirits (McLaughlin, Dennis Chambers, and Joey DeFrancesco) in the mid '90s. Also saw Niacin a couple of times (first time in Erie, PA and the 2nd at Nearfest), which I may have enjoyed more than The Free Spirits.

[Hal...]

First time i heard Gurtu on record was that 89 concert with McLaughlin And Eckhardt at Royal Festival Hall,London on JMT.

I bought that CD shortly after it was released. It's a great album but, as good as Eckhardt is, I cannot stand that tone. I know a lot of bassists started using a tone like that, especially after Jaco got famous, but man I hate it. Di Piazza has a similar tone on Que Alegria, altho not quite as bad. That's why I felt so fortunate to have seen Jonas in that trio rather than Berlin, Eckhardt, or Di Piazza.

[Jaco]

I bought that CD shortly after it was released. It's a great album but, as good as Eckhardt is, I cannot stand that tone. I know a lot of bassists started using a tone like that, especially after Jaco got famous, but man I hate it. Di Piazza has a similar tone on Que Alegria, altho not quite as bad. That's why I felt so fortunate to have seen Jonas in that trio rather than Berlin, Eckhardt, or Di Piazza.

Interesting point, my brother is a bass players and just won’t listen To anything with that tone. I like it.
I think Gurtu is amazing and saw in clinic with Simon Phillips in the early 90s. Astonishing groove, feel and meter. The Royal Festival Hall album is a favourite also.

[Phlakaton]

Gurtu is out of this world.

[Hal...]

Interesting point, my brother is a bass players and just won’t listen To anything with that tone.

Glad to see I'm not the only one, especially considering people have been a little contemptuous toward me over it.

[Udi Koomran]

I saw him many times
Usfret
with McLaughlin
Oregon
and the last time was when he was in Israel and I was lucky to have dinner with him and then see his show
What a character

[calyx]

Saw him with McLaughlin, Oregon and, just a couple of weeks ago, with Garbarek. Great musician. Apparently he was a Western-style drummer before he seriously got into Indian percussion.

[Zeuhlmate]

[Zeuhlmate]

Saw him with McLaughlin, Oregon and, just a couple of weeks ago, with Garbarek. Great musician. Apparently he was a Western-style drummer before he seriously got into Indian percussion.

I read this as if he started as a child on tablas (but wiki is wiki)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilok_Gurtu#Early_life

[walt]

Due to the nature of the tabla tarang(the lead instrument on this album) it's not always easy to clearly hear Gurtu's tabla on this recording.I still hope to find another recording of raga where the lead instrument leaves room for Gurtu to shine.

[StarThrower]

I wasn't aware that these three had played together.

[Dave (in MA)]

Saw him with McLaughlin, Oregon and, just a couple of weeks ago, with Garbarek. Great musician. Apparently he was a Western-style drummer before he seriously got into Indian percussion.

Paradoxically, Oregon had less emphasis on Indian-sounding percussion during his tenure than they did with an American percussionist.

[jkelman]

I've been a fan since Oregon and an early Gurtu solo album, USFRET. His work with Oregon, McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek and others has never been less than stellar. I also have seen him doing all-improv sets with Jan Bang and Nils Petter Molvær (there's a back story, but no time right now, but maybe later), along with his own band back in 2013 in Hamburg, where I was covering the ELBJazz festival. It was great to see him in two very different contexts. Prior to that the only time I'd seen him was with Garbarek, and that was also a stunner!

But most of his solos albums are highly recommended, though if I had to pick a few: Living Magic, Crazy Saints, Believe It!, the live Bad Habits Die Hard, and The Glimpse. A later killer is Massical, as is his big band date, 21 Spices.

[FrippWire]

I became aware of him with the release of the Usfret album on CMP Records and saw him do a solo show in Detroit. What a drumming beast master! I've not been disappointed with any of his album releases and can recommend them without reservation.

[rcarlberg]

There's another one from the 90s titled The Glimpse which features some excellent material.

if I had to pick a few: Living Magic, Crazy Saints, Believe It!, the live Bad Habits Die Hard, and The Glimpse.

Okay, you guys got me wondering: is there an album called "The Glimpse"? One of the ones I have, "Kathak" says "The Glimpse" on the cover but the spine identifies it as "Kathak." I figured The Glimpse was his band or sumthin'.



PS - Please let's discuss artists like Gurtu. We don't need another Yes thread!

[Udi Koomran]

My initial encounter with him was on this wonderful album 3 Day Moon by Barre Phillips
His earleir works in Gemany in the late 70's included Charlie Mariano Embryo
The lots of CMP artist like Dark Mark Nauseef
I also him play with L. Shankar at WOMAD 1985

[rcarlberg]

I wasn't aware that these three had played together.

Me either! This is EXCELLENT.