Top Drum

Pete Lockett,the master percussionist known for his background scores in Bond films,has embraced every sound that he has ever stumbled upon — from the Middle Eastern darabuka and gyil to the African djembe to the Indian ghatam,kanjira and tabla. “I think Indian percussion is the Holy Grail for percussionists,considering the intricacies involved,” says Lockett,45,who took up drums only at the age of 19.

Lockett’s new album,Pete Lockett’s journey with the master percussionists of India (Music Today),has him collaborating with Bickram Ghosh,Vikku Vinayakram,U Rajesh and Mahesh Vinayakram. The album hit the shelves this month. “For me it is all about portraying tradition with integrity,” says Lockett. The album has some extremely traditional pieces and gradually goes on to a more extreme,Hendrix-style treatment.

The album builds up through its tracks. It begins with Mile high,mile deep,which has a calm alaap on mandolin with only whispered percussion. This goes to an extreme,virtuoso conclusion in the last track Searching for time which features some heavily distorted mandolin by Rajesh. “Rajesh has done a brilliant job with the mandolin. Then there is a track where I have arranged traditional south Indian breaks on the kanjira which Ghosh doubles up on the tabla. All the musicians have been vital spokes in this musical mission to integrate different traditions and styles,” says Lockett.

Most of the recordings happened in India,some of them even at the musicians’ homes. The processing happened later at Lockett’s studio in London.