Trilok Gurtu is one of the world’s most creative percussionists and a composer who brings a vast number of musical experiences to bear on his intensely melodic, dynamic creations.

The son of the renowned Hindustani vocalist Shobha Gurtu, Trilok has played tablas since the age of five and in the 1970s he began incorporating Western drums into his now highly individual stage set-up. He moved to Europe and played with musical visionary, trumpeter Don Cherry before coming to international attention with the band Oregon, forming a long-standing partnership with saxophonist Jan Garbarek, and touring and recording with guitarist John McLaughlin’s trio.

His own albums have included Crazy Saints, which featured guitarist Pat Metheny and Weather Report founder and keyboard innovator Joe Zawinul, Arkeology, on which he collaborated with the Arke String Quartet, and Bad Habits Die Hard, which he recorded with a band including saxophonist Bill Evans and bassist Chris Minh Doky and toured with SNJO director Tommy Smith taking Evans’ place.

Bad Habits Die Hard also included 21 Spices, which gives this project its name, as well as Trilok’s compositions 1-2 Beaucoup and Balahto, which also feature in a programme of music written by Trilok and arranged by Wolf Kerschek, the Hamburg-born percussionist, pianist and composer.