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Bill Bruford and Steve Smith on Pete Lockett 2008....

Bill Bruford

Pete and I worked together on tour a few years back as ‘Network of Sparks’ and produced a neat album called ‘One’. The group was a percussion quintet covering many of the disciplines from around the world: Ghanaian, North Indian Dhol tradition, Pete specialising in Indian tablas, Simon Limbrick on mallet percussions, and myself on electronic and acoustic drums. It was a heavy introduction to the glorious colours available from more sophisticated rhythmic cultures than my own, and several of its ideas were carried on into the recent World Drummers Ensemble I was in with Chad Wackerman, Luis Conte, and Doudou N’Diaye Rose.

Pete, who seems to be from all these cultures but from none of them, has the chameleon-like ability to merge perfectly into any rhythmic terrain, and enhance it into being something you’ve never quite heard before. An expert on tablas, kanjira, and bongos, he has been well placed to make Indian rhythm intelligible to Western drumset players because he plays that instrument too. He is one of the few UK musicians to be honoured with invitations to play in India in the highest circles of Indian classical musicians.

Our jaded Western drumset rhythms would probably have fossilised some years back if it hadn’t been for the healthy infusion of the rhythms and colours of Cuba, Latin-America, and Africa, and it seems that visiting with and borrowing from these and other cultures, while approaching their rhythmic depth with proper respect, is what is going to continue to give our popular music vibrancy. Pete is expertly placed in a field of one, here in the UK, to guide us through the riches of other nation’s rhythmic heritages, as he has already done on countless gigs, studio dates, James Bond movies, and cross-cultural collaborations. Unfortunately, his energy and output just mean that the rest of us are going to have to run a bit faster to keep up. I just wish I could get him to slow down a bit!

Look out for his name on anything you’re listening too, and chances are you’ll get a little lesson in the percussive arts. If you’re not a fan of this cross-cultural stuff, try his book ‘Symmetrical Stickings for the Snare Drum’. That should keep you busy for a while!

Steve Smith
Since we met in 2003 Pete Lockett has become a friend, inspiration, teacher and collaborator. As one of a few musicians who is a virtuoso in both North Indian and South Indian percussion, his abilities on the tabla (from the North Indian Hindustani tradition) and kanjira and konnakol (from South Indian Carnatic music) are world-class. Significantly, Pete is not only acknowledged and appreciated by Westerners, but he has been accepted into the rarefied circle of maestros of both North and South Indian percussion, no easy feat!

I like the fact that Pete has taken his knowledge of Indian instruments, rhythms and techniques, along with his innate knowledge of Western music and has applied these skills into a unique “world-view” of percussion. This inclusive approach incorporates rhythms and percussion instruments from around the globe. Pete has the kind of high-level musicianship that is a universal language, crossing all boundaries of style or culture.

To me, that is what makes him a valuable contributor in a musical situation and outstanding as a solo artist. Pete and I have played duo concerts together, he is featured on my latest Vital Information recording Vitalization and Pete has performed live with my band, contributing a beautiful mix of colours, texture, groove and excitement. I look forward to more collaborations and lessons with Pete!

Dirty Linen World music magazine. "Pete Lockett's performance was a pulse-pounding rhythmic odyssey, full of complex structures and invention".