The who's who of the world music industry will join tabla maestro Zakir Hussain this weekend to celebrate his father, Ustad Allarakha
Ace percussionist Shivamani
From his first barsi on February 3, 2001, the city has celebrated tabla legend Ustad Allarakha with music. In its 17th year, the event titled
A Homage to Abbaji — Ustad Allarakha, will include three sessions curated by the maestro's son Zakir Hussain, featuring renowned artistes and students of Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music.
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Late Ustad Allarakha and Zakir Hussain
"Through these 16 years, we have had the good fortune of having some of the greatest luminaries of Indian music bless this occasion along with masters representing many musical and rhythmic traditions from across the globe," says Hussain, who is known for his illustrious collaborations with Indian and international artistes.
"The seeds of fusion between Indian and Western music were there before me. It was Pandit Ravi Shankar, my father and even many Bollywood music directors who had experimented with fusion. I merely made it accessible to the world. I reached out to them," he adds.
Shankar Mahadevan
The line-up remains star-studded this year, too. The free, annual concert is divided into three segments. At 6.30 am, the show will commence with Taal Pranam, performed by Rahul Sharma (santoor) and Parveen Sultana (vocals). The second leg titled Taal Tapasya that starts at 11.30 am will include performances by A Sivamani (world percussion) and the students of the Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music (tabla) and Akram Khan (tabla).
Dave Holland
The final act, titled Celebrate Abbaji, will take place at 6.30 pm and will feature a jam session led by Zakir Hussain (tabla), featuring Dave Holland (bass), Chris Potter (saxophone), Louiz Banks (keyboard), Shankar Mahadevan (vocals), Sanjay Divecha (guitar) and Gino Banks (drums). "It's a very important day, because we are celebrating the musical life of a legend. Over the years, I have witnessed game-changing musical performances on that stage," says Banks.
Gino Banks
The artistes will perform with Hussain's fusion band Cross Currents. "While touring the US with Cross Currents, we always talked about how great it would be for us to be performing this music in India," says guitarist Sanjay Divecha. For celebrated percussionist and Ustad Allarakha's younger son Fazal Qureshi, the occasion is spiritual.
Chris Potter
"The concert is a heartfelt effort by family and friends to pay respect to him. The important thing is the genuineness of emotion that is felt by performers and the audience. I have performed twice as a soloist, and numerous times with Zakir bhai and other students. The only way I can describe it is by calling it surreal."
ON: February 3, 6.30 am onwards
AT: Shanmukhanand Hall, 17, Comrade Harbanslal Marg, Sion.
CALL: 24078888 (free passes available at venue)
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