Bringing together two of the planet’s most virtuosic and innovative percussionists, on February 1, 2017 in Glasgow, the Celtic Connections festival presents the world première of Trilok Gurtu’s and Evelyn Glennie’s first collaborative creation, “The Rhythm in Me”, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of India’s independence in 2017.
A triple Grammy winner, Scotland’s Dame Evelyn Glennie OBE has premièred more than 200 works by leading international composers, alongside live and studio performances with artists as diverse as Béla Fleck and Björk, while Indian jazz percussionist Trilok Gurtu’s likewise lengthy and glittering CV includes projects with Jan Garbarek, Zakir Hussain, Salif Keita, Huun Huur Tu, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Gilberto Gil and Annie Lennox, among myriad others. Joining these two maestros are pioneering Indian violinist Kumaresh Rajagopalan and top classical pianist Philip Smith.
Best known for his formidable prowess on uilleann pipes and whistles, Jarlath Henderson won a raft of glowing reviews for his 2016 solo debut, Hearts Broken, Heads Turned, a stunning collection of boldly reworked traditional songs. “A revelation” (Guardian)
The concert takes place at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow on 1 February.