Ustad Zakir Hussain and an ensembleof some of the finest percussion and string maestros dazzled the audience with their eclectic presentations of rhythm and melody at the Berklee Performance Center on Thursday, May 18 2006. Tabla, Kanjira, Western Percussion, Pakhawaj, Dholak, Khartal, Manipuri Jagoi Marup, Sarangi and Sitar were featured in a unique manner that was both educational and entertaining.  Each performer was a master in his own right and yet the presentation was seamless with everyone finding their space.

The presentation opened with Khete Khan on the Khartal. This is an unusual percussion instrument comprising four small flat rectangular pieces of wood held two in each hand. Kheta Khan, from the Manganiyar caste of musicians from Rajasthan has taken the art of playing Khartal beyond its folk idiom and has developed an extraordinary and refined technique.

Bhavani Shankar, whom Zakir Hussain referred to as “Lord Ganesha” for his expertise on the Pakhawaj presented a lovely solo using many of the “Ga Gam” syllables which made for a lovely rhythmic offering to Lord Ganesha,  considered to be the master of the Pakhawaj. Bhavani Shankar is not only brilliant on the drums but being from a family of Kathaks, well versed in ancient shlokas and rhythmic compositions.

Zakir Hussain then took the stage along with his brother Fazal Quereshi and the great Sarangia Ustad Sultan Khan who presented the Rag Charukeshi on the Sarangi. The elaboration of the Rag and the beautiful tone of the Sarangi spoke volumes about his mastery over this very difficult instrument. A representative of the Indore gharana Sultan Khansahib is the grandson of Ustad Azim Khan and he son of Ustad Ghulab Khan. He has worked with many world renowned musicians including Pandit Ravi Shankar and George Harrison. The Hussain-Khan rhythm-melody jugalbandi was simply delightful.

Hussain then took a few minutes to introduce Indian percussion  to the audience. A consummate entertainer, his lighthearted “teaching moment” combined with technical wizardry delivered the message while presenting some really difficult rhythm patterns.  He was accompanied by his talented brother Fazal Quereshi. 

The event proceeded with a presentation by Manipuri Jagoi Marup – the dancing drummers of Manipur who combined dance, drumming and Marshall Arts. They dazzled the audience with their very acrobatic choreography while presenting a traditional classical Manipuri number.

After the intermission there was a Sitar-Tabla presentation by Zakir Hussein and Niladri Kumar who is son and disciple of Pandit Kartick Kumar. Niladri demonstrated great maturity in his Rag elaboration. Taufiq Quereshi  who is the youngest brother of Zakir Hussein showed his talent on western drums. He later added a unique touch by presenting vocal percussion to create unique rhythmic motifs.

The presentation ended with a medley by all the artists and it was amazing to watch the transition from one instrument to another, each playing extremely complicated rhythms without skipping a beat.

The presentation was a perfect sampler to present to the largely non-Indian but very musically inclined audience.  Expert handling of instruments and a keen understanding of how to present an impressive composition in a short span of time made this presentation unique.  They succeeded in delighting the experts and the uninitiated alike which is not an easy task for presenters. As the audience rose to give its thunderous applause one could clearly understand the greatness of Ustad Zakir Hussein who succeeded in bring Indian percussion to the world stage.

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