South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)

Global percussion­ists unite in common rhythm once more

- By Kristin M. Hall

A Grammy-winning group of the world’s top percussion­ists has reunited after 15 years on a new record that aims to bring the world together in rhythm and dance.

Planet Drum’s “In the Groove,” out now, features drummers from different background­s and musical cultures collaborat­ing using technology to adapt their acoustic instrument­s into new sonic forms.

The collective is made up of the Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart, Indian tabla master Zakir Hussain, Nigerian talking drum virtuoso Sikiru Adepoju and conga great Giovanni Hidalgo from Puerto Rico.

“The first thing we all know about rhythms is that they are universal,” said Hussain during a recent interview. “So that is what makes it possible for rhythm players all over the world to be able to interact and communicat­e and be able to work together to make music.”

“Drums are a language unto themselves,” said Hart.

Planet Drum’s self-titled first record in 1991 was the first album to win in the Grammy category for best world music, now called best global music album. Their second record earned them another Grammy in 2009.

Hidalgo called Planet Drum an “honor for me to travel the whole world with all of them, because it is amazing when you analyze and you appreciate different cultures, different styles, from different countries — Africa, India, United States, Puerto Rico. It’s amazing, and we respect all of them.”

On this third album Hart and Hussain didn’t want the virtuosity of the different players to overwhelm the average listener, instead focusing on creating rhythms that kept up an energy and pace that would get people moving.

Each of them are masters on an instrument, or in a particular style of drumming, such as Adepoju, who was born into a family of drummers. The talking drum, which he plays, can imitate vocal sounds and language.

“It was a challenge to be able to play together as a dance band as opposed to rhythm masters playing in their own styles,” said Hart.

Hussain said they wanted all those instrument­s and drumming patterns to come together “crystalliz­ed in a simple way where all the organic elements and intricacie­s of the instrument­s and the tradition that it represents are projected.”

The music video for “King Clave” showcases the members of Planet Drum and more than 50 drummers from all over the world.

“Drums form an integral part of Indigenous Cultures around the world ... used through the centuries, not only for festive occasions, but to communicat­e,” said Adepoju in a statement. “They feature prominentl­y in a broad spectrum of community events … hence their universal appeal.”

Hart, who has regularly been experiment­ing with electronic sounds in his solo work, wanted to showcase new ways to use the traditiona­l acoustic instrument­s by manipulati­ng their sounds electronic­ally in the studio. Hart calls it “processed percussion,” and he’s able to morph the sound of Hussain’s tabla, for instance, into the sound of bass guitar or strings or even the sound of water drops.

“So it’s electronic, very much so, but most of it comes from an acoustic source that makes it rich and pure,” Hart said.

Hussain added that Planet Drum’s music is meant to engage people in a communal way, just as the drum in its many forms has always been tied to social and community gatherings.

“It has been since the beginning of time when people would get around the fire and the drums would play and people would dance and chant and do all that stuff,” said Hussain. “And there’s no reason why we can’t bring that traditiona­l element into the into the modern sonic experience.”

 ?? JAY BLAKESBERG/RETRO PHOTO ARCHIVE ?? Giovanni Hidalgo, from left, Zakir Hussain, Mickey Hart and Sikiru Adepoju are the members of Planet Drum.
JAY BLAKESBERG/RETRO PHOTO ARCHIVE Giovanni Hidalgo, from left, Zakir Hussain, Mickey Hart and Sikiru Adepoju are the members of Planet Drum.

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