Drums of Compassion is a 35-minute CD combining elements of world, jazz, ambient, and avant-garde music to create a series of tracks that “expresses Michael’s spiritual perspective on what music contributes to the world.” With contributions from such performers as Jack DeJohnette, Zakir Hussain, Babatunde Olatunji, and a host of others, this album is an interesting and engaging sonic journey performed to the highest level.

Percussion is the predominant voice throughout the CD, with electronics, vocalizations, or the occasional acoustic instrument added in. The opening track, “The Call of Michael Olatunji,” is the longest track on the album. Setting up the ambient atmosphere of the album, a vocal incantation from Babatunde Olatunji is surrounded by melodic tom gestures and tabla fills.

“As Above, So Below” begins a series of three tracks that flow seamlessly into one another. The first features an interesting juxtaposition of long melodic lines from composer BC Smith while percussionists Raul Rekow and Karl Perazzo support these with brisk, dense percussion grooves. This track flows into “The Euphoric Pandiero of Airto Moriera,” which is a one-minute pandeiro solo with vocalizations, which transitions directly to “The Fierce Energy of Love,” a soundscape featuring various samples over driving percussion grooves.

Tracks like “On the Path to the Healing Waters,” “Oracle,” and “The Breath of Human Kindness” still have ambient sensibilities while providing more straight-ahead groove and almost pop aesthetics than the rest of the disc. This is by no means a negative, as these tracks help provide a new color and character to the collection while not feeling out of place.

Track 8 is a tabla solo from Zakir Hussain, which is what you’d expect from this legendary performer. The track develops brilliantly and acts as the perfect lead-up to the final song, “Hejira,” which takes us back into highly ambient soundscapes and serves as a good bookend to the opening track.

Drums of Compassion is a well-composed and beautifully performed album. Fans of any of the genres listed above will find something to enjoy on this disc, and the opportunity to hear some of these percussion luminaries perform in such exposed ways is sure to not disappoint.