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Ustad Zakir Husain Reviews

The Musical Nirvana
Sep 17, 2005 05:25 PM 3479 Views

First Person


Ustad Alla Rakha, India's leading virtuoso of the tabla and one of the world's greatest and most influential percussionists, Alla Rakha had already established his reputation in India as one of the century's great masters . He was personally responsible for elevating the tabla from its secondary position as an accompanying instrument to that of a virtuosi solo instrument of vast power and complexity.


Composing and performing in the semi-pop style typical of Hindi films. Returning to classical music, he soon became recognized as a world-class


some invisible rain-god moving his thunderous fingers on the hard surface. This is ''Rela'', a technical term in Tabla-speak for continuous rhythm cycles played in increasing repetitions over a fixed interval. The clap of fingers had the signature of ''Tabla-Nawaaz'', the Master of Tabla, Ustad Zakir Hussain .


Zakir Hussa


Zakir Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country, India, but gained him worldwide fame. The favorite accompanist for many of India's greatest classical musicians and dancers, from Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar to Birju Maharaj and Shivkumar Sharma, he has not let his genius rest there. His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study.


classical tabla player and percussionist, with an unrivalled ability to perform as soloist and accompanist in Indian popular music, classical music, East--West fusion, jazz and rock without compromising his integrity. He is the son of Alla Rakha, .


Zakir founded Moment! Records which features original collaborations in the field of contemporary world music, as well as live concert performances by great masters of the classical music of India. The label presents Zakir's own world percussion ensemble, The Rhythm Experience, both North and South Indian classical recordings, Best of Shakti, and a Masters of Percussion series


Zakir quickly became the hottest musician on the Indian classical scene -- playing over 150 concerts a year -- but his greater impact may be in how he has expanded the whole concept of what the tabla can do. While his father's generation concentrated on breaking Indian classical music overseas, Zakir has attempted to cross-breed India's rhythms with, well, whoever can keep up with him.


Wah Taj!!! A few lines for a wonderful artist.
Nov 11, 2004 11:56 PM 3432 Views

The son of Ustad Alla Rakha, quite possibly one of the greatest exponents of the tabla instrument the world has ever seen. Zakirji has taken the flame that Pandit Ravi Shankar lit back in the fifties, of introducing Indian classical music to world audience (esp. the west), to new heights and constantly strives to do that even to this day.


Zakirji has forged new ways of taking this rich Indian classical tradition to the masses in the west. He has done this very successfully by working with various musicians from all parts of the world. Zakirji has a unique way of fusing his Indian rhythms into the overall collage of music that could be based on any musical style ranging from jazz, rock, folk, African, Japanese or any other genre you can possibly imagine. He has an extraordinary ability to improvise in any form of music with his percussion and blur that line between the traditions.


Zakirji has also managed to strike a very good balance between the traditional classical music and the overall space of world music. He spends a great part of his time performing in the pure Indian classical realm (Hindustani and Carnatic), while managing to forge new ways in the realm of world music. As per Zakirji, his father did not approve of his dabbling in western music and he promised his father that he would not let that part of his tradition suffer or die and he tries to spend at least six months of the year performing exclusively in the Indian classical realm.


Zakirji was a child prodigy and has been touring since the age of twelve. He came to the US in 1970 to assist in the efforts at Ustad Ali Akbar Khan?s Ali Akbar School of Music in San Rafael, California. The rest as they say is history. Zakirji tours every year with no less than 150 dates in a calendar year including the winter months spent touring India and accompanying various musicians.


In 1987, his first solo release, Making Music, was acclaimed as ''one of the most inspired East-West fusion albums ever recorded.'' In 1988, he became the youngest percussionist to ever be awarded the title ''Padma Shri'' by the Indian government, a title given to civilians of merit. In 1990, he was awarded the Indo-American Award, in recognition for his outstanding contribution to relations between the United States and India.


In April 1991, he was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the president of India, making him one of the youngest musicians to recieve this recognition from India's governing cultural institute. In 1992, Planet Drum, an album co-created and produced by Zakir and Mickey Hart, was awarded a Grammy for Best World Music Album, the Downbeat Critics Poll for Best World Beat Album and the NARM Indie Best Seller Award for World Music Recording.


Zakirji has accompanied virtually every possible touring musician in the Hindustani music tradition including greats such as Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan to name just a few. He has also actively accompanied carnatic musicians including greats such as L. Shankar, L. Subramanium to name a few.


On the world music front, his most notable contribution is obviously his association with Shakti, however, he has also worked on various other endeavors such as a Shanti, Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum (w/Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead), George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans Symphony.


Zakirji heads his own ensemble of percussionists in a band called the ?Rhythm Experience? and another such outfit of Indian percussionists called ?Masters of Percussion?. Lately Zakir has also been spending some time touring and performing with Bill Laswell?s percussion outfit ?Tabla Beat Science? with Karsh Kale.


In 1992, he also launched Moment! Records which features original works and collaborations in the field of contemporary world music, as well as digitally recorded live concert performances by great masters of the classical music of India.


Zakirji has also composed and collaborated on the music scores of several movies including, ?In Custody?, Ismail Merchant's directorial debut, ?Little Buddha? by Bernardo Bertolucci, and ?Vanaprastham?.


He has also collaborated on musical scores for some Indian films such as ?Saaz? (which he starred in as well), ?Mr. And Mrs. Iyer? and most recently Rahul Bose?s film ?Everybody says I?m fine?, which included session work by such greats as Carlos Santana.


Am not quiet a fan of Ustadji? am a great fan? he has quiet a look and style.. in which he plays and a smile which add on?s to kill me atleast!!


South of 60 Canada
Ustad Hussain: He came, he played, he conquered
May 06, 2004 08:50 PM 3398 Views

There are few opportunities in life when you can emphatically state that you have experienced the very best of any one thing that the world has to offer. After being mesmerized by Ustad Zakir Hussain for nearly three hours, I know what the best tabla player in the world sounds like.


The Masters of Percussion tour has assembled some of the brightest stars of Indian percussion and thrown in two virtuoso Karnataki violinists. The whole is magnificently greater the sum of the parts. I had the amazing fortune of sitting less than twenty feet away from the masters and I found my eyes watering because I stopped blinking.


Thank you Ustad Hussain for taking your talent to the world. The show could have gone on for another three days and I doubt anyone would have moved. The concert is moving across North America and internationally. Those of you with an affinity to percussion or Indian musical generally, this is a 'can't miss' opportunity.


The show takes you through the subcontinent starting with northern styles and moves on to the south. The maestro is accompanied by his younger brothers Fazal and Taufiq Quereshi. The finale is a vertible foot stomping, soul shaking feast of percussion. Simply Brilliant!!!!


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Ustad Zakir Husain
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davieboyMouthShut Verified Member
Chennai India
Wah Ustad Wah
Jul 24, 2003 02:59 PM 4943 Views

Many have know this as an Indian Musical Instrument. I have known as the music of the heart beats. Tabla is originally a Persian instrument and incorporated into Indian culture. The use of tabla is somehow and sadly discouraged in the south Indian Carnatic music.Traditional tabla shells were made of either rosewood or teakwood. considering the predators like insects and termites which harbor on the wood thereby degrading the quality of Tabla and its music. The latest and standard tabla shells are made out of metal alloys. The black spot on tabla adds to the tone and the base of the beats. The black spot is called Shahi. The ingredients in this is a closely guarded secret restrained only to the tabla makers. The manufacturing of tabla usually involves crafts works than skill. Usually it is not just one person manufacturing tabla. The shell, the cover and shahi comes from different manufacturing units. the Shahi comes from Bhavnagar town in Gujrat.


The Ustad


Many of us Indians closely associate tabla with Ustad Zakir Hussain. If still in doubts you may have seen the Wah Ustad Wah, Advertisement on TV. His command over the instrument and rhythmic synchronization with his accompaniments made him the favorite among all the classical music lovers. close your eyes in your room , and let the music from the Tabla sooth your brains. After all you definitely need a break from the Heavy metal and rock. Ustad Zakir Hussain is the best Musician I have known in Tabla. He did have several contributions in some western music too, which got him fame not just in his homeland but also all over the world.


Born 9th March 1951 ( Pisces ) in Bombay, for Ustad Zakir Hussain percussion ( technical name for Tabla) came naturally since his father was already an established maestro. He was considered a prodigy by many who knew him. He began his professional career by age 11. In 1970 (age 19!!) He left for USA and teamed a band with John McLaughlin. The band was named shakti. Later he teamed up with Mike Hart for a band named Rhythm. His profile boasts of performing with George Harrison ( Beatles). One of his students who was known for Jazz was TY Burhoe ( TY was also coached by Ustad Sultan Khan for sarangi). He was already a touring success, much to the pride of Indians.


Also known to have accompanied several maestros, Like Pandit Ravi Shankar ( sitar), Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flute) , Ustad Sultan Khan (Sarangi) and also for collaborative music with Lois Banks and HariHaran (one of the Colonial Cousins). As mentioned before Ustad Zakir Hussair, is a natural choice for other maestros for their concerts.


His father, the legendary Ustad Allah Rakha Passed away in February 2000, but still the beats continue. A concert is planned every year on his death anniversary to commemorate the tabla legend.


Awards


. In 1988, He received Padma Shri, awarded by the Indian government, being the youngest ever in his field to receive such a title.


.In 1990 He received an Indo-American for bridging the musical relations between the two continents.


.In 1992 He received a Grammy for best world Music Album named Planet. The album was a combined effort with Mike Hart.


Comments Most Welcome


Davieboy.


Credits:


Special thanks to Taki Aamir Razafrom Hyderabad, for providing the information on Tabla manufacture and the info on Ustad Zakir Hussain. Aamir bhai manufactures, sells and teaches Tabla. He is a close friend of my father and me


Are Huzoor Wah Zakir Boliye
Mar 20, 2002 12:28 AM 4587 Views

The day I saw this man perform from 630hrs in the morning to 2230 hrs on the 3rd Feb,2002, I thought to myself that he is not only an Ustad but a Badshah. I thought that I ll write the little bit that I know about him.That concert was in memory of his father Ustad Allah Rakha, who was the Father of the Badshah on his second death Anniversary. The other artists who played were Pt.Hariprasad Chaurasia on flute ,Pt. Shiv Prasad Sharma on the Santoor , U. Srinivas with his Mandolin , vocals by Shankar Mahadevan & many others. His jugalbandis with ghatam maestro Viku Vinayakram, Selvaganesh on the Kanjira & Pandit Bhawani Shankar on the Pakhwaj is a real treat to watch. It is simply mind blowing.


Ustad Zakir Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. This classical tabla artist of the highest level has made a name for himself not only as a national treasure but also all round the world. He is the one responsible to put Hindustani classical music on the world. His experiments in the world music movement came through his contributions to Shakti which was formed with John Mc Laughin & L.Shankar. In addition he was also a part of Planet Drum & Diga Rhythm Band. He has also done a lot of recordings with Pandit Ravi Shankar & the beatle George Harrison.


Very few people know that this tabla maestro left his home & went to US to become a rock artist.But then the love for the tabla pulled him back again. He is voted one of the sexiest individuals a few years ago. He doesn’t relish this title though. At a very young age of 12 he used to tour with his father Ustad Allah Rakha all around the world & earned praises & various accolades. He has composed and recorded many albums and soundtracks, and has received widespread recognition as a composer for his many ensembles and historic collaborations. Most recently, he has composed soundtracks for the films.He composed music for the Sai Paranjpe movie Saaz, where he was cast opposite Shabana Azmi. Mind you he did not do bad in acting too.


Making Music was his first solo release and one of the best fusion music albums ever to have been released. He was the youngest percussionist to have received the Padma Shri Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Zakir bhai is the recipient of the National Heritage Fellowship, the US of A’s most prestigious honor for a master in the traditional arts.


Every year on the 3rd Feb, he plays for almost the whole of the day which comprises of people from his group & various other artists in memory of his father Ustad Allah Rakha. Also accompanying him are his brothers Fazal & Taufiq & all of Abbajis Students


I never miss any of his concerts!! Its bliss…………………………̷
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