Living Magic

Living Magic is a studio album by Indian percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu. Gurtu released the album on CD in 1991 through the German label CMP Records. The recording showcases Gurtu’s fusion of Indian classical rhythms with jazz, world music and electronic elements, a style he developed through collaborations with international artists in the 1980s and 1990s.

The album includes eight original compositions. The second track, titled Living Magic, runs for 6 minutes and 28 seconds. Gurtu performs on a combination of traditional Indian percussion instruments, drum machines and synthesized textures. The piece exemplifies his approach to layering complex polyrhythms with ambient soundscapes, a technique he refined during his tenure with musicians such as John McLaughlin and Don Cherry.

CMP Records produced the album in Germany, with recording sessions held at studios in Munich. The label specialized in avant-garde jazz and world music during the late 20th century, releasing works by artists like Rabih Abou-Khalil and David Torn. Living Magic followed Gurtu’s earlier albums Usfret (1988) and Believe (1990), further establishing his reputation as a pioneer in cross-cultural percussion.

The album’s liner notes credit Gurtu as the primary composer and arranger. Additional musicians appear on select tracks, though specific session details for Living Magic (the track) remain undocumented in widely available sources. The release received attention in European jazz circles for its innovative use of technology alongside acoustic instrumentation. Later reissues and digital distributions retained the original tracklisting and artwork.

Gurtu continued to explore similar fusion styles in subsequent projects, including collaborations with Zakir Hussain and the group Shakti. Living Magic (the album) remains a reference point in discussions of 1990s world fusion, particularly for its integration of Indian classical frameworks with electronic production methods.