Zakir Hussain is the son of the legendary tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha, venerated through out India and also worldwide as the perfect embodiment of the Indian Classical Music and its famous modsty. Personally Zakir is the most famous classical tabla player in India and perhaps the only artisst in the Indian classical context to draw such a strong media attention. For his noble and sublime performance he is appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenom and not only confined in the domestic circle. From his early childhood being nurtured by his illustrious father he has been brought up in this very environment. The guidnace and nourishment being such has helped Zakir to expand his knowledge and peroformance at an early age. He has won laurels and recognitions immense for his astounding contribution to the world of music. In the contemporary wolrd he is the emblem of Tabla, a once hated instrument, once used to be in the mehfils (functions) at the royal courts buut was never touched by the cultired people. On the contrary, follwoing Zakir’s footsteps a lot of young people are keenly intetrested to learn this instrument.
He is generally regarded as a tabla virtuoso of the highest order. It is said that the Dilli (Delhi) gharana (tradition) has produced many wise tabla players but Zakir with his elagance and creation has intorduced a novel dimension, of popularizing this very discipline by leaps and bounds unheard hitherto. Through his consistent brilliant and exciting performances he has made a distinct generation spell bound establishing him as national treasure in his own country. He is today no longer perceived as a mere tabla player but also a perfect percussionist, busy in experimenting different ragas; introuducing and adding a new dimension. Even in concerts with renowned pundits of vocla and other instrumental devices he has been the best choice. To India's greatest classical musicians and dancers, from Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar to Birju Maharaj and Shivkumar Sharma he is the choicest accompanist. If observed minutely his playing will reveal a definite mark of eerie instinct and a blend of masterful improvisational dexterity which is founded in his formidable knowledge and study.
In the international arena for his fame as a chief architect of the ancient talas and ragas along with the present-day world music movement, his contribution to world music has been unique. He has also been an intrinsic part of many historic collaborations including Shakti, founded by him with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, and recordings and performances with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans Symphony.
Disclaimer: Images and content on this page may be subject to copyright and you may need permission from owner to use the image or other content for any purpose.
