Zakir Hussain laid to relaxation in San Francisco, drummer Anandan Sivamani pays tribute at closing rites | WATCH
New York: Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain was laid to relaxation in San Francisco on Thursday. Hussain, one of many world’s most completed percussionists, died at a San Francisco hospital on Monday as a result of issues arising from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a lung illness. He was 73. Hussain, the son of the legendary tabla participant Alla Rakha, revolutionised the instrument, taking it past the boundaries of classical music to different varieties, together with jazz and Western classical.
Drummer Anandan Sivamani attended the funeral within the US metropolis.
Who was Zakir Hussain?
The celebrated musician, considered one of India’s most well-known, obtained 4 Grammy Awards in his profession spanning six a long time, together with three on the 66th Grammy Awards earlier this yr. Hussain is survived by his spouse Antonia Minnecola, daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Qureshi, his brothers Taufiq Qureshi and Fazal Qureshi and his sister Khurshid Aulia.
Born on March 9, 1951, Hussain was the son of all-time tabla nice Ustad Alla Rakha. The legacy of genius was maybe destined. Hussain as soon as recalled that his father recited “tabla rhythms” in his ears when he was born as an alternative of the standard prayers. His mom was furious after which life took by itself trajectory.
He was simply seven when he gave his first efficiency and began touring on the age of 12. In his early profession, Hussain went on to collaborate with nearly all of India’s performers of the time, together with Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan and Shivkumar Sharma.
President Murmu, PM Modi condole dying of Zakir Hussain
As information unfold concerning the dying of the beloved musician, a particular determine along with his broad smile, curly locks that stored rhythm with the fast, blurry motion of his fingers on the tabla, the tributes poured in. “He was a bridge between the musical traditions of India and the West. I had the privilege of conferring the Padma Vibhushan upon him. I convey my deepest condolences to members of his household and his numerous admirers,” President Droupadi Murmu stated in her message.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated Hussain “introduced the tabla to the worldwide stage, charming tens of millions along with his unparalleled rhythm”. “Via this, he seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions with world music, thus turning into an icon of cultural unity. His iconic performances and soulful compositions will contribute to encourage generations of musicians and music lovers alike. My heartfelt condolences to his household, pals and the worldwide music neighborhood,” the PM wrote on X.
Tabla is a mate, it’s a brother, a buddy: Zakir Hussain
Hussain, pivotal in shifting the tabla from an accompanying instrument to centre stage, advised PTI final yr that music is his world. “It’s the garb I put on. Tabla is a mate, it’s a brother, a buddy, it is the mattress I sleep in.
My father at all times stated that every instrument has a spirit and half the battle in case you are a scholar is to get that spirit to simply accept you as a mate, as a buddy and as soon as that occurs then the instrument reveals how it is best to react to it, how it is best to contact it and categorical your self via it,” Hussain stated.
Via his lengthy profession, the percussionist was on the entrance of innovation and experimentation in fusing totally different sounds from totally different worlds. He collaborated with a number of famend worldwide and Indian artistes however it was his 1973 undertaking Shakti with English guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L Shankar and percussionist T H ‘Vikku’ Vinayakram that introduced collectively Indian classical music and components of jazz in a hitherto-unknown fusion.
Zakir Hussain’s world collaboration
His groundbreaking work with Western musicians corresponding to cellist Yo-Yo Ma, jazz musician Charles Lloyd, banjo participant Bela Fleck, bassist Edgar Meyer, percussionist Mickey Hart and The Beatles’ George Harrison introduced Indian classical music to a global viewers, cementing his standing as a world cultural ambassador.
Hussain obtained 4 Grammy Awards in his profession, together with three on the 66th awards ceremony earlier this yr. And, in truth, was planning a sequence of live shows in Mumbai early subsequent yr as a part of the fusion band ‘Shakti’, for which he bought considered one of his Grammys.
The percussionist, who was additionally a composer and dabbled in appearing, obtained the Padma Shri in 1988, Padma Bhushan in 2002, and the Padma Vibhushan in 2023. “The King, in whose palms Rhythm grew to become Magic, has left us… RIP my dearest Zakir. We’ll meet once more,” Shakti founding member John McLaughlin stated on Instagram.
(With inputs from company)
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