"This
just might be the best percussion recording ever made. The drumming
is of such a high quality that this CD is on my short list of the CDs
I can recommend to any drummer or percussionist. It is one of those
rare CDs that is wonderful to listen to, and also can be played over
and over in order to learn new rhythms and compositional forms. Instruments
played include tabla, frame drums, riq, djembe, kanjira, mridangam,
gongs, marimba, sogo , congas, and dumbek. Every drummer should own
this CD. " - (Percussionmusic.com)
"The
center of gravity clearly is Indian and Oriental rhythm without succumbing
to cerebral exaggeration, the grooves are always exciting, and humor
never goes short: They drum on spaghetti pots (why not, if the Indians
do it on flower pots), Beethoven's Hymn to Joy is presented on a Hungarian
Jew's harp. The impossible is made possible in the combination of two
djembe drums with two frame drums by using expanded playing techniques.
Indian rhythmics are applied to everything (African drums and bells,
back beats, etc.) as a common denominator and never appear to be artificial.
Thanks to short commentaries all the games are comprehensible; the two
Indian teachers of the ensemble, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri and Poovalur
Srinivasan have splendid guest appearances. Surprising combinations
of sounds and rhythms make listening a pleasure, the emphasis is on
communicative group playing. John Bergamo, Austin Wrinkle, Randy
Gloss, and Andrew Grueschow succeeded in presenting a CD clearly ranking
among the most interesting percussion CD's of the last ten years."
- (Michael Weil, Percussion Creative (Germany))