Planet Drum – In the Groove (2022)
Planet Drum, the international world music supergroup of master drummers, is back with “In The Groove”, an album titled In the Groove. Although the four members of the Grammy Award-winning ensemble are spectacular performers, this time the focus is not on exhibiting virtuosity. Instead, the structured musical pieces feature vocals and tribal chants, rich cinematic harmonies and memorable drumming.
Planet Drum
The current incarnation of Planet Drum with Mickey Hart (USA), Zakir Hussain (India), Giovanni Hidalgo (Puerto Rico) and Sikiru Adepoju (Nigeria). The Planet Drum musicians represent some of the most captivating drum traditions of the world. Indeed, you will hear dazzling India tabla, irresistible West African drums, the mesmerizing beats of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and Mickey Hart’s enthralling transglobal drums.
Mickey Hart and his colleagues are concerned about the current state of the world, enhanced by the challenges of the COVID pandemic, and see a need for healing. “The planet is out of rhythm. We have lost our groove,” says Mickey Hart
As touring ended during the pandemic, Hart’s busy Dead & Company schedule came to a stop, leaving him the gift of time to explore further his passion for percussion, which eventually led to reconnecting with his three musical brothers in Planet Drum. As a lifelong student of rhythm, Hart is fascinated by its restorative nature. “I thought there was a great need for this. Rhythmic unity among cultures is what Planet Drum is about, and with the world in torment, it sends a powerful message of healing.”
The four rhythm masters conceived “In the Groove” as a dance album, a festive performance after the fatigue and diminution of the last two years. Zakir says. “It’s a groove album. Very little virtuoso soloing, but four of us in sync within the groove adds up to something incredible.”
Produced during the pandemic, the undertaking of recording became primarily one of editing and spatial processing. Towards the end of recording, the supergroup was ultimately able to come together in-person and perform live, and that absorbing energy is experienced throughout In the Groove.
The release date is August 5, 2022. Planet Drum will celebrate the release of “In the Groove” with two performances, on August 5th and 6th at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. Go to thecapitoltheatre.com for more details.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.