It is not necessarily a plus in terms of musical enjoyment when two leading drummers take the stage together. However 21 Spices was a success, enthusiastically acclaimed by both press and public at several concerts. For Wolf Kerschek, as arranger of these titles composed by Trilok Gurtu, had chosen the soloists for the NDR Bigband carefully. Two guests stood on the stage whose musical roots could hardly be more different: the indian tabla specialist and drummer Trilok Gurtu, who was also involved in the conception together with the producer Joachim Becker, and the Briton Simon Phillips, who is famous through his work with the rock band Toto. The result of the combination is all the more fascinating since the project was further spiced by Michel Alibo on the double bass and Roland Cabezas on guitar. 21 Spices refers to the 21 musicians involved, who give the music character sometimes strident, sometimes subdued – and have created an unusual sound experience.

The 21 Spices recording, therefore, has the feeling of one single event which presents a special project with exceptional musicians arranged for a concert season. In a mix of studio and live recordings, the album documents for all those who could not attend the programs premiere at the DrumsNPercussion festival in Paderborn on May 21, 2010, or the Elbjazz Festival in Hamburg on May 31, 2010 the furious energy of a drummers cooperation which was raised to a new level of tonal diversity and musical refinement through the NDR Bigbands backing.