MUMBAI: Music Today launches a brand new, high-energy percussion album - Pete Lockett's journey with the master percussionists of India. This album is an amalgamation of renowned percussionists from across the globe. Pete Lockett - the wizard of World music bring together astonishing and unexplored concoctions of rhythm, beats and melody. The album is a collaboration with the versatile & fabulous master percussionists and musicians such as T. H. Vikku Vinayakram, Bickram Ghosh, U. Rajesh and Mahesh Vinayakram.

Pete Lockett quotes, It is a very new approach to the material, using sound design, electronics and lots of world percussion.  Also, the seamless integration of the north and south Indian.  Hopefully people can see the potential for developing these type of collaborations within their own musical circles. I am very happy with the overall project and product and am especially happy that Music Today, one of the iconic labels of Indian music, are involved....

About the Album

According to Pete Lockett, there are many different approaches on the album, from the very traditional led pieces to the more extreme â€?Hendrix' style treatment of the mandolin.  I do not recall an album similar to this being released.  There are many special moments for me on the CD.  Vikkus solo which I have treated and processed and added some sound design drones.  Also,  the trio for Ghatam,Bongos and Kanjira.

I remember playing the final mix for Vikku at his house for the very first time wondering what he would think.  He was so excited, hearing how the Ghatam was processed and mixed.  It was a totally new thing.  It was very inspiring for me to see his reaction.  Then there is a track where I have arranged lots of traditional south Indian breaks on the kanjira which Bickram Ghosh doubles up exactly on Tabla.  This is within an unusual rendition of a south Indian song (Mahesh Vinayakram on vocals) which switches between mandolin and vocals in a very untraditional format.  Rajesh Mandolin is absolutely rocking on this track....

The overall concept is that the album builds up over the journey through  the tracks, from a very calm alap on mandolin (Processed heavily) which has only whispered voice percussion through to an extreme virtuosic conclusion in the last track which features some heavily distorted mandolin.  It is a project I am particularly proud of....

Track Listings

1. Mile High, Mile Deep  –  07:36

2. Takadinata, Gajavadana – 08:13

3. 9th Wonder – 07:31

4. Unveil the Drum – 05:15

5. Arabian Drums to Kolkatta – 07:33

6. Setting Earth – 06:14

7. Thala-Thala – 05:11

8. Searching for Time – 08:36

Pete Lockett's experience working with the very best of Indian percussionists

One of the things that is great about all these artists is their open minded approach to working outside the traditional norm.  We all know they are total virtuosic masters and legends in their field.  They were an inspiration to work with, every one of them.  In this age of cultural conflict and misunderstanding this project is a beacon for the opposite of that.  It stands for brotherhood, mutual understanding, sharing and being together in music.  We are one mankind and the world is getting smaller all the time... and that is the essence of this album.