Across the Beat Drum Kit

R&R not-so-distant drums Japanese, Latin and Western per- Pete Lockett feels that cussion traditions. Then there is the “cultures are healthy only other long list – Bond films on which when they cross-fertilise” he has provided the percussive mo- ments, beginning from Tomorrow Never Dies right up to the latest Quantum of Solace, besides other Hollywood films like The Incredible Hulk, City of Angels, Moulin Rouge and The Bone Collector. It’s easy to get charmed into the galaxy of greats who have prettied up his CV – but that’ll be reiterating the better-pro- moted side of Lockett. The other half of him is firmly stuck in Indian music. “I realised that I’m on the right track when in 2004 I was invited to perform with Ustad Zakir Hussain in a tribute concert for the late Ustad Alla Rakha in Bombay. It was a great honour,” Lockett picks up the thread once Ghosh’s little son left the room and returned us to the origi- nal topic. Based on his studies of the tabla under Yousef Ali-Khan, South In- dian percussions under Karaikudi Krishnamurthy and his own experi- ence of working with Indian classical musicians, Lockett’s recently published book on Hudson Music, Indian Rhythms for the Drumset, is an effort to approximate the varying cultures of Carnatic and north Indian rhythmic systems and the Western Across the Beat drum kit. Primarily aimed at “demys- Multiple albums, had promised himself to make a dent At Ghosh’s home in the Southern tifying the air of impenetrability” sur- in Indian music. The turn towards In- fringes of Kolkata, Lockett’s address rounding Indian rhythm regimes, the concerts, video dian music happened when Locket, at in the city, we are less inclined to talk book takes an uncomplicated view shoots and a book - 21, heard the complex cadence of Za- about some of the names from the of Indian rhythmic complexities and away from the Bond kir Hussain’s tabla at a free concert in music world in the West with whom tackles issue of syncopation, modula- the UK. “The music came in with the he has been associated. His website, tion, phrase development and groove, soundtracks, India summer breeze. Till then, I was a blin- petelockett.com, is a veritable call-up allowing their use in a jazz, rock and is bearing fruit for kered rock drummer living in a music of artists and bands like Björk, Peter funk situations. “A lot of Western mu- British percussionist world that was fairly homogeneous,” Gabriel, Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, sicians see Indian rhythm musicians Pete Lockett Lockett says. Sinéad O’Connor, Gary Husband, playing across the beat, get perplexed, In Kolkata recently to firm up Amy Winehouse, Bill Bruford, Steve and immediately shy away. The book By Shamik Bag Kingdom of Rhythm, his forthcoming Smith, Afro Celt Sound System and is a door for them; it can set them on album on Saregama with fellow per- the Verve, for whom he has recorded the road,” says Lockett. he tattoos that snake cussionist Bickram Ghosh, Lockett as a musician well-versed in Arabic, Talisman, his co-signed album down his arms and the one contends that his earlier decision to with Indian guitarist Amit Chatter- T that stretches up his left foot invest his time and talent on classical The turn towards jee, is a fitting example of how adept are an inheritance from his youth, ad- Indian percussive music is throwing Lockett is in manoeuvering within a mits Pete Lockett. The British multi- up gainful results. Other than King- Indian music cultural crossover environment. In percussionist, as he talks, is rolling dom of Rhythm and Talisman, his col- happened when interesting portions of the album, up his trousers to let the dragon peer laboration with guitarist Amit Chat- Chatterjee induces a knotty jazz and out from beneath the folds of cotton - terjee released recently on IndiaBeat, Lockett heard Za- abstract feel from his fretwork while fire-breathing, ominous and a throw- Lockett is involved in the creation of Lockett introduces intricate and dis- back to the days when the young, Made In Calcutta, based on tabla leg- kir Hussain. “The tinctly Indian rhythmic patterns and aspiring drummer immersed himself end Pandit Sankar Ghosh’s composi- music came in moods – a near-total role reversal by into the heady world of rock & roll. tions; the Journeys with the Master “a Bengali and a British musician” “I was working as a dock worker in Drummer of India album on Music with the summer that also pokes at cultural typecasts. Portsmouth and there was rock and Today, where ghatam ace Vikku breeze. Till then “I don’t understand, but why can’t we bebop happening all around. It was Vinayakram is joined by the likes of imagine an Indian footballer playing a natural move for a 19-year-old,” Mandolin Rajesh, Bickram Ghosh I was a blinkered in the West?” wonders Lockett. It is says Lockett. and Lockett; and an album with Dan- rock drummer,” he who provides the answer: “Cul- Now 44, Lockett has seen off the ish guitarist Henrik Anderson and tures are healthy only when they struggling half of a three-year stint he south Indian flautist Shashank. he says. cross-fertilise.” eckie june 2009 Rolling Stone 25 R&R Pete.indd 25 5/27/09 7:03:03 PM.

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