In the Groove

Rhythm and percussion form the universal pass key to the world's music, the underlying connection that can unite an American rock and roll drummer who started in the marching band world with the master of Indian tabla, the "Mozart of the Nigerian talking drum," and one of the great conqueros (conga players) alive. Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju, and Giovanni Hidalgo are Planet Drum. The origins of Planet Drum lie in Mickey Hart's 1968 encounter with the great Indian tabla player Allarakha, best-known as Ravi Shankar's accompanist. Already a member of the Grateful Dead, Hart had by all measures achieved considerable success, but his passion for studying other rhythmic worlds was just taking off. His work with Allarakha introduced unusual time signatures into the Dead's repertoire; then the master gave Mickey his greatest gift by introducing Mickey to his future life partner in rhythm, Allarakha's son, Zakir Hussain.