Supralingua

Supralingua, "beyond language," is the second Planet Drum album produced by Mickey Hart. More Latin than African, Hart combines compelling production techniques with power players of the drumming world including: Zakir Hussain, master of the North Indian tabla; Giovanni Hidalgo; conguero great from Puerto Rico, Sikiru Adepoju, a disciple of Babatunde Olatunji (a member of the first incarnation of Planet Drum) on dundun; bassist Bakithl Kumalo; and David Garibaldi, traps player. Promising to surpass words, ironically the first track, "Angola," features chanting by The Gyüto Monks Tantric Choir. Supralingua grooves but it lacks the excitement of the self-titled Planet Drum and the "steppin' out" of each virtuoso. --Cristina Del Sesto