Drum Travel is the mind-boggling double-CD collaboration by percussionists James Asher and Sandeep Raval. Disc 1 celebrates the diversity of drumming and Disc 2 is subtitled TIPI Experience, traveling even deeper. Both artists have a lifetime of experience as musicians as well as composing for a vast array of music media. The music on this album contains a staggering range of musical styles that include Worldbeat, Latin, Ecstatic Dance, Shamanic, Jazz, Blues, Indian folk, Meditative, and Native American. Adding to this musical melange are vocals and charango by Italian singer/songwriter Carolina Maggio and bass and guitar by Simon Brewin; both co-composed many of the pieces. Ten other musicians plus The Gathering Sound Community Choir contribute with a variety of instruments and voices. This project was a huge undertaking, taking eighteen months to complete. What a triumph! In the liner notes, the artists invite you to: “Dance to the drums, play along with the drums, meditate to the drums, but most of all enjoy the musical freedom that a deep love of drums invites, and find and enjoy your own travels with some compulsive accompanying scores.” Take heed, because this is an amazing musical experience!

Disc 1 consists of thirteen tracks that represent the music of many cultures. Some of the shorter tracks are drums and percussion only and will get the heads to bobbing and the toes to tapping - if not up and dancing! I find those high-energy tracks especially compelling, exploding with the pure joy of musical expression. Carolina Maggio’s magical vocals soar on four tracks that she co-composed, singing in several different languages - I love “Fugira” and “Neptune Skank,” which is an infectious mix of rhythmic musical styles. “Beside the Blues,” “Breaking Good” and “Chilli Pickle Chaser” feature Simon Brewin playing jazz electric guitar that really cooks. “Pappadoms from Persia” takes us to the heart of the Middle East while the fourteen-minute “Seven Veils” tells an exotic and sensuous tale of mystery.

Disc 2 consists of seven tracks that are again very diverse, but none of these are percussion only. “Los Cuentos” is a beautiful instrumental with an easy rhythm and haunting melody. “Hey Wanaina” has a very strong Native American influence with drums, choir, and bass guitar and Carolina’s chanting/singing. The remaining four tracks range from eight to thirty minutes, allowing the listener to become drawn into the music for a longer and more sustained period of time. “If the Earth Could Speak” has a powerful, emotional intensity that I find compelling - love it! “On the Outbreath” is the 30-minute closing track and is quite a journey unto itself. Dark, exotic and mysterious, Middle Eastern instruments and rhythms plus wordless vocals enchant and mesmerize, transporting the listener to a different realm.

There is really no other music that I am aware of that compares to what James Asher and Sandeep Raval have graced us with. At nearly 2 1/2 hours and twenty tracks, there is no filler whatsoever. If you are feeling musically adventurous and ready to try something new and exciting, I highly recommend Drum Travel! It is available from Amazon and iTunes. Check it out!