Trilok Gurtu

Trilok Gurtu (born 30 October 1951) is an Indian percussionist and composer whose work blends the music of India with jazz fusion and world music.

He has worked with Terje Rypdal, Gary Moore, John McLaughlin, Jan Garbarek, Joe Zawinul, Michel Bisceglia, Bill Laswell, Maria João & Mário Laginha, Stefano Bollani and Robert Miles.

Deadmau5 (Joel Zimmerman) mentions Trilok Gurtu as his hero and once added: "You know who's a big hero of mine? Trilok Gurtu... Indians should know this. Indian traditional percussive algos (algorhythms) and modes blow my mind. Check him out. Full-on retarded isolation skills. I can't even chew gum and walk. There's a whole different language/notation to a tabla."

Style "An open-minded musician who embraces Jazz, Indian classical music, abstract improvisational and Asian pop, a dazzling percussion virtuoso, an accessible entertainer" – The Guardian UK.

He is self-confessedly strongly influenced by the rhythms of Africa and African beats and drumming patterns.

Awards Gurtu has garnered a number of prestigious awards and nominations, including: Best Overall Percussionist winner, DRUM! Magazine, 1999 Best Overall Percussionist winner, Carlton Television Multicultural Music Awards, 2001 Best Percussionist winner, Down Beat's Critics Poll for 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 Best Asia/Pacific Artist nominee, BBC Radio 3 World for 2002, 2003, and 2004.

Discography As leader Usfret (CMP, 1988) Living Magic (CMP, 1991) Crazy Saints (CMP, 1993) Believe (CMP, 1994) The Glimpse (CMP, 1996) Bad Habits Die Hard (CMP, 1996) African Fantasy (ESC, 1999) Kathak (Escapade, 1998)

Broken Rhythms (Worldmusicnet, 2004) Farakala (Frikyiwa, 2005) Arkeology with Arke String Quartet (Promo Music, 2006) Massical (BHM, 2009) 21 Spices (Art of Groove, 2011) Broken Rhythms (Cream, 2012) Spellbound (Moosicus, 2013) Drums On Fire with Chad Wackerman (Times Music, 2015) Crazy Saints Live (Art of Groove, 2015) God Is a Drummer (Jazzline, 2019) One Thought Away (Jazzline, 2023) Mirror (Worldwide, 2025)

With Family of Percussion Message to the Enemies of Time (Nagara, 1978) Sunday Palaver (Nagara, 1980) Here Comes the Family (Nagara, 1981)

As sideman

With Aktuala La Terra (Bla Bla, 1974) Tappeto Volante (Bla Bla, 1976)

With Charly Antolini Finale (Jeton, 1983) Menue/Finale (Jeton, 1987)

With Karl Berger Live at the Donaueschingen Music Festival (MPS, 1980) New Moon (Palcoscenico, 1980)

With Peter Giger Illegitimate Music (Nagara, 1978) Where the Hammer Hangs (Nagara, 1978) For Drummers Only: Live at Cologne (Nagara, 1982)

With John McLaughlin Live at the Royal Festival Hall (JMT, 1990) Que Alegria (Verve, 1992) The Promise (Verve, 1995)

With Robert Miles Organik (S:alt, 2001) Miles Gurtu (S:alt, 2004)

With Mark Nauseef Personal Note (CMP, 1981) Sura (CMP, 1983)

With Claude Nougaro Lady Liberty (WEA, 1987) Nougayork (WEA, 1987)

With Oregon Ecotopia (ECM, 1987) 45th Parallel (Portrait, 1989) Always, Never, and Forever (veraBra, 1991)

With Pharoah Sanders Save Our Children (Verve, 1998) With a Heartbeat (Evolver, 2003)

With Irmin Schmidt Filmmusik Vol. 3 & 4 (Spoon, 1983) Musk at Dusk (WEA, 1987) Filmmusik Vol. 5 (Virgin, 1989) Impossible Holidays + Musk at Dusk (Spoon, 1998)

With Fredy Studer Seven Songs (veraBra, 1991) Half a Lifetime (Unit, 1994)

With Swans Can't Find My Way Home (MCA, 1989) The Burning World (UNI, 1989) Forever Burned (Young God, 2003)

With Richard Teitelbaum Blends & the Digital Pianos (Lumina, 1984) Blends (New Albion, 2002)

With others Leonard Bernstein, Katia & Marielle Labeque, West Side Story (CBS, 1989) Michel Bisceglia & Didier François, Whispered Wishes (Prova, 2019) Ketil Bjørnstad, Grace (EmArcy, 2001) Jack Bruce, Somethin Else (CMP, 1993) Philip Catherine, End of August (Wea, 1982) Adriano Celentano, Facciamo Finta Che Sia Vero Clan (Universal, 2012) Aiyb Dieng, Rhythmagick (P-Vine, 1995) Doky Brothers, 2 (Blue Note, 1997) Christy Doran, Christy Doran's May 84 (Plainisphare, 1985) Embryo, Apo Calypso (April, 1977) Espoo Big Band, Neandertal Grooves (EBB, 2001) Peter Finger, Neue Wege (Stockfisch, 1984) Antonio Forcione, Ghetto Paradise (Naim, 1998) Ivano Fossati, Lindbergh Lettere Da Sopra La Pioggia (Epic, 1992) Jan Garbarek, Visible World (ECM, 1996) Dhruv Ghanekar, Voyage (Wah Wah Music, 2015) Roman Miroshnichenko & Henrik Andersen, New Shapes (Indie, 2021) Gilberto Gil, O Sol de Oslo (Blau, 2006) Danny Gottlieb, Whirlwind (Atlantic, 1989) Alfred Harth, This Earth! (ECM, 1984) Jonas Hellborg, Adfa (Day Eight, 1989) Maria Joao, Cor (Verve, 1998) Tony Lakatos, Tony Lakatos and His Friends (Krem, 1983) Bill Laswell, City of Light (Sub Rosa, 1997) Nguyen Le, Tales From Viet-Nam (ACT, 1996) Albert Mangelsdorff & Wolfgang Dauner, Moon at Noon (Musikant, 1987) Charlie Mariano, October (Contemp, 1977) Mario Marzi, East Travel (Stradivarius, 2011) Material, Hallucination Engine (Axiom, 1994) Paul McCandless, Heresay (Windham Hill, 1988) Airto Moreira, Misa Espiritual (Harmonia Mundi, 1983) Panzerballett, Breaking Brain (Gentle Art of Music, 2015) Michel Portal, Any Way (Label Bleu, 1993) Omara Portuondo, Gracias Montuno (World Village 2008) Barre Phillips, Three Day Moon (ECM, 1978) Dulce Pontes, O Primeiro Canto (Polydor, 1999) Joshua Redman, Chick Corea, Kenny Werner, Ludwigsburger Jazztage (Chaos, 1994) Marina Rei, Animebelle (Virgin, 1998) Claudio Rocchi, Il Miele Dei Pianeti Le Isole Le Api (Ariston, 1974) Terje Rypdal, Vitous & Gurtu, Trio Live in Concert (TDK, 2001) Lalo Schifrin, Esperanto (Aleph, 2000) L. Shankar, Song for Everyone (ECM, 1985) Tabla Beat Science, Tala Matrix (Axiom, 2000) Nana Vasconcelos, Rain Dance (Antilles, 1989) Pete York, Pete York Presents Super Drumming Vol. 3 (BMG, 1990) Joe Zawinul, My People (Jms, 1996)