Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain with Planet Drum/ In The Groove

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

Mickey Hart & Planet Drum with Zakir Hussain, Giovanni Hidalgo and Sikiru Adepoju/ In The Groove

Genre: Global percussion

Label: Valley Entertainment 

Rating: *****

In 1991, rock band Grateful Dead's drummer Mickey Hart got together with renowned percussionists from around the world to release the album Planet Drum. The idea was to bring together different global rhythms, and the project went on to win Grammy for best World Music Album.

Hart has now released In The Groove, after the similarly-themed ventures Supralingua in 1998 and Global Drum Project in 2007. Joining him are three members of the original line-up - tabla great Zakir Hussain, Puerto Rican conguero Giovanni Hidalgo and Nigerian talking drum maestro Sikiru Adepoju. On djembe, balafon, shekere and vocals, they are accompanied by Melissa and Ophelia Hie of West African country Benin.

The six tracks seamlessly fuse different rhythmic styles, with a prominent use of electronic effects to fill up the sonic palette. The emphasis is on maintaining the groove, and not on individual solos. Afro chants and Indian percussion bols add to the magic, and one hears many Indian instruments and rhythms interwoven in the mix.

Percussion enthusiasts may have already seen the video of 'King Clave', the opening track. It features these musicians besides guest appearances by Hussain's brothers, tabla maestro Fazal Qureshi and percussionist Taufiq Qureshi, who also played a huge role in the Indian rhythm recording sessions in Mumbai.

The tune bubbles with energy fusing different styles, and sets the right tempo. The second track 'Storm Drum' seems to flow directly from the first one, and builds up gradually before a magical chant takes over. 'Tides', inspired by the sea waves Hart observed in the San Francisco Bay Area, has some brilliant thematic changes, with African rhythms making way for sounds from Bali.

'Drops' begins with a voice sample of late Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji, and has wonderful chanting. 'Phil Da Glass', dedicated to renowned composer Philip Glass, is adorned by Hussain's vocal bols. 'Gadago Gadago', which Hart claims was inspired by his wife's habit of saying 'Got To Go, Got To Go', begins with a balafon part and has an Indian 'Mahi Ve' chant that just makes you want to dance.

The project was conceptualised during the beginning of lockdown, when Hart's tour with Dead & Company had to be cancelled, and other musicians were stuck at home too. Once things eased up, the musicians were able to record together, meeting in multiple locations.

The effort had been well worth it. Over 37 minutes, the album stuns you with its pulsating energy and foot-tapping nature. While an assortment of hand drums are used, Hart himself operates gear like the Ramu (Random Access Musical Universe) and V-Drums (virtual drums). All through, the quality and surprise factor have been maintained, making this a magical listening experience.