King of rhythm who likes dosa and drums
20 Feb 2009, 0012 hrs IST, Bhama Devi Ravi, TNN
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CHENNAI: Percussion is all about the power you bring to play, says Pete
Lockett, the English percussionist on a visit to the city he loves for its
music<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms#>and
dosa. "It is all about optimism," adds the 45-year-old drummer,
pushing
away his salt-and-pepper mane that keeps a rhythmic beat with each syllable
of his. In Chennai for the release of his collaborative
album<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms#>,
Kingdom of Rhythm' with Bickram Ghosh, Lockett appears very much at home.
The classy drummer who joined hands with A R Rahman for Vande Mataram' and
again for Sivaji,' is very much at ease with korvai,' neraval,' thani' and
other technical nuances of Carnatic
music<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms#>.
However, taking traditions in classical instruments such as ghatam' and
mridangam' to a global audience is not an easy task, Lockett agrees.
"Traditions in classical music are very strong, and people can lose the
peripheral vision. Classical music anywhere in the world is a
self-referential system.Within itself it is very successful, but in terms of
development in different ways, there are limitations," adds Lockett.
The adherence to form, has on occasions failed to strike the right chord."
One of my toughest missions was in Azerbaijan when I wanted three musicians
in a troupe of 20 to try things differently. It did not work," he recalls
with a sigh."Sometimes when there is no meeting point, it is hard," adds
Lockett who has collaborated with musicians from Japan, Latin America,
Africa and many other countries. He has worked in many Hollywood
films<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms#>including
The Incredible Hulk II' and Quantum of Solace.' Lockett records
the percussion portions at his home in London, not in a studio. "It is a
very quiet street," he says, before telling you, "But one of the best
studios in the world is A R Rahman's. It's state-of-the-art. Like Rahman
himself. He comes alive in the studio. He is totally into music and is so
very innovative. When I played the tabla, he said the music was too Indian.
I turned it around and it sounded like bongo. It was an incredible moment
for me."
Quiz him about Umayalpuram Sivaraman, Vikku Vinayakaram or Selvaganesh and
he joyfully replies, thakida thakida tha.' Ask him about Chennai, and he
turns expansive. "It is the Barcelona of India. You have the beaches, the
music and rava dosa. What more do you want? It was Palghat Mani Iyer's music
which made me stop and wonder, Wow! How does he do that?' I wanted to know
the entire syntax of percussion music and signed up for mridangam classes."
A chance stumble into Zakir Hussain's performance in London was the next
step in a musical
journey<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms#>which
made him learn the tabla, the khanjira and even nattuvangam' from
Valli Subbiah, a student of Kalakshetra. There is a brotherhood of global
music pulsating in the air, and that positive enrage is something
politicians can emulate, adds Lockett before setting off for a vada' date
with mandolin Rajesh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chennai/King_of_rhythm_who_likes_dosa_and_drums/articleshow/4157664.cms
--
regards,
Vithur
