Zakir Hussain's Masters of Percussion

A dazzling display of drumming with virtuosi from India’s classical and folk traditions, this concert is under the direction of percussion legend Zakir Hussain. Zakir Hussain is the world’s pre-eminent tabla maestro; a chief architect of the world music movement who brought his instrument to a global audience. Truly an international phenomenon, he is one of India’s most renowned cultural ambassadors. The favorite accompanist for most of the greatest classical musicians and dancers of India, Zakir Hussain is equally respected for his innovative cross-cultural musical projects including Shakti, Remember Shakti, The Diga Rhythm Band and Planet Drum. The foremost disciple of his father, the legendary Ustad Allarakha, Zakir was a child prodigy who began his professional career at twelve and was already touring internationally with great success by eighteen. He has been the recipient of many awards and honors, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the 1999 NEA National Heritage Fellowship Award. Masters of Percussion was begun in 1996—an outgrowth of Hussain’s memorable tours with his father. Besides Zakir Hussain, percussionists featured in tonight’s concert include his two younger brothers, tabla artist, Fazal Qureshi and multi percussionist and rhythm programmer, Taufiq Qureshi whose unique style incorporates numerous instruments from many cultures plus body and vocal percussion; Abbos Kosimov recognized as an “Honored Artist of Uzbekistan” — a player and teacher of the doyra, a frame drum with jingles which is played widely in Uzbekistan as well as in Iran and other Central Asian countries; Ram Kishan who plays the nagada — a pair of kettle drums played with sticks; Vijay Chauhan, one of the foremost exponents of the dholki, the premier two sided barrel drum of Maharashtra which has been played in his family for generations; and the Meitei Pung Cholom Performing Troupe (dancing drummers of Manipur)which was established in 1963 by the late Guru Padmashri Amubi Singh and is one of India’s premier performance troupes combining dance, drumming, and martial arts. Masters of Percussion also features sitarist Niladri Kumar, son and disciple of maestro Pandit Kartick Kumar; plus sarangi artist, Dilshad Khan the son of Ustad Nasir Khan, a well known and gifted sitar player and the nephew of the renowned sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan.

$50/$35/$25/$20 ($5 discount for Outpost Members and Students). Available at Ticketmaster by calling 883-7800 or at ticketmaster.com; and at the Outpost Performance Space by phone or in person.