About Believe
Believe is a studio album by Indian percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu, released in 1995. The album represents a fusion of Indian classical rhythms, jazz improvisation and global instrumental textures. Gurtu composed the majority of the tracks and produced the recording under an unspecified label.
Gurtu assembled an international ensemble for the sessions. Collaborators included Norwegian saxophonist Jan Garbarek, Brazilian guitarist Carlinhos Brown, Indian violinist L. Shankar and keyboardist Joe Zawinul. The lineup also featured bassist Dominique Di Piazza and drummer Manu Katché, among others. Recording locations remain undocumented in available sources.
The album comprises eight tracks. The title track Believe opens the release with layered percussion and melodic interplay. Vak incorporates Konnakol vocal rhythms alongside Garbarek’s saxophone. Carlinhos highlights Brown’s percussive guitar work and call-and-response patterns. Offering and The Western Front expand on Gurtu’s blend of Carnatic rhythms with electronic elements. Fourth Moon features Shankar’s double violin technique, while Protector emphasizes Zawinul’s synthesizer textures. The closing track Sidewalk returns to a percussive, groove-driven arrangement.
Critics noted the album’s cross-cultural synthesis, though specific reception details and commercial performance figures are not widely documented. Gurtu’s use of traditional Indian instruments like the mridangam and kanjira alongside electronic production marked a continuation of his experimental approach. The 1995 release followed his earlier works such as Usfret (1988) and preceded later projects like The Glimpse (1997).
No official music videos or singles from Believe are verified in public records. The album remains available in CD and digital formats, though remastered editions or reissues have not been confirmed. Additional session details, including exact recording dates and studio personnel, are incomplete in existing sources.