21 Spices

21 Spices is the seventh track on the 2011 studio album of the same name by percussionist Trilok Gurtu, drummer Simon Phillips, and the NDR Bigband. The album was released on February 25, 2011 under the German label MIG in CD format. The track spans 9 minutes and 26 seconds and exemplifies a fusion of jazz, world music, and orchestral arrangements.

The album 21 Spices emerged from a collaboration between Gurtu, Phillips, and the Hamburg-based NDR Bigband, known for its work in contemporary jazz and cross-genre projects. Gurtu composed the material, blending Indian classical rhythms with Western jazz harmonies and big band instrumentation. Phillips contributed drum programming and acoustic percussion, while the NDR Bigband provided brass, woodwind, and rhythmic sections. The recording sessions took place in Hamburg, though specific studio details remain undocumented in available sources.

The title track 21 Spices reflects the album’s thematic focus on culinary and cultural syncretism, using improvisation and structured compositions to evoke diverse musical traditions. The piece opens with a layered percussive introduction led by Gurtu’s hand drums and Phillips’ kit, gradually incorporating the NDR Bigband’s sectional interplay. The mid-section features extended solos, including a prominent saxophone passage and a rhythmic dialogue between the percussionists. The composition concludes with a collective crescendo, merging Indian tala patterns with jazz swing.

Critics noted the album’s dynamic range and the integration of global influences, though no formal awards or chart placements are recorded for this release. The CD format included liner notes with contributions from the artists, but no music videos or alternate versions of the track were produced. The collaboration marked one of several projects where Gurtu and Phillips explored cross-cultural jazz fusion, following their earlier work in the 1990s and 2000s.

Further details about the track’s reception, live performances, or commercial distribution beyond its initial CD release are not widely documented. The album remains available through physical retailers and digital platforms, though specific reissue dates or remastered editions are not verified in public sources.