Since arriving in New York in 1970, in place of his legendary father Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain has been one of the most sought after percussionists on the classical scene. A virtuoso player whose improvisational technique and perfect rhythm had been a great inspiration for many Tabla artists, Zakir Hussain has racked up an impressive list of collaborations with world renowned musicians like Yo Yo Ma the cellist, John McLaughlin and L.Shanker, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, George Harrison, Joe Henderson, ,Van Morrison,Jack Bruce,Billy Cobham, Vikku Vinayak, Shivkumar, Ashish Khan, HariPrasad Chaurasia and Sultan Khan

When we meet Zakir Hussain for an interview for Lokvani we are totally disarmed by his easy going attitude and friendly smile. As he admitted, during the course of the conversation that to him playing the Tabla, meant, having a really good time. We did too as we listened to Zakir Hussain talk on his life, his family, his music and his collaborations.

Zakir Hussain Speaks.........

On the city of Boston and the people

I love coming to the city of Boston. It is one of the main seats of education. Young people around here check out on the cultural scene here. In that sense it is a very eager audience. The Berkeley school of Jazz promotes music. It promotes music that is eclectic and I enjoy coming here. The city is more tradition oriented having been the few early settlements with a healthy respect for the old and going back to the roots. Mostly of course I have built an audience wherever I go and they come to see that.

On MITHAS

I think they are doing an excellent job. The organization is helping in preserving and promoting Art and Culture of South Asia. Music which is very eclectic has very little support. So if they can gather support for an event like this to a sold out audience It is very encouraging.

On World Music and Fusion Music

We have a tendency to believe what is NOW music is what happened now. We think that Asian Underground, TransTechno etc come from Europe but it is all happening here in Chicago and New York – all kinds of NOW music. It is a great canvass for classical musicians with collaborations. Every area have their unique kind of music, Seattle has rock. America is open to artistic adventures much more than any other place. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Moody Blues. They play the music that comes from here. World Music uses three vital elements in the concoctions they put together- Blues, Jazz and Rock. These combinations are crying to be called world combinations. You cannot brand it with a label they are all artistic creations. I have been working in various collaborations, Shakti, Yo Yo Ma, Srinivas, Mickey Hart . Each time it is a different adventure, a different role, a different friend you meet.

On Music

What is music ? It is a conversation you are having, an interaction that you are initiating with whoever you are musicking with if you can use such a word. When I meet Ali Akbar Khan, I go for a walk with him, we are walking this road and going on a street called Teen Tal and along the way we find a restaurant called Raag Darbari and enter in to sample the wares. When we sit down too we are interacting . It is a journey that we are embarking and it will lead to something. It is a process, Never a preconceived idea. That is a tradition that exists in western classical music or film music and pop music. For some of us musicians, we go on stage and play elements that we have played before and enjoyed . These same elements are going to be embellished with a different manner this time. That is the beauty. It cannot get old. Music is a process of creation that is already created, what is about to be created and take it a step further so that there is a possibility of something happening..

On Ali Akbar Khan

I have played with him for thirty years. He is incredible. I never know what he will do and that is the exciting part. He is the kind of musician you envy. He is not there with the express idea to entertain the audience and is oblivious to anything else. He is called the ‘musicians musician’. He is the Bach of Indian music. It takes great courage to be true to the art of creativity. Our music says’ Take what exists and make it new’ and be ‘true to your tradition’. A contradiction sometimes. For Ali Akbar Khan, his challenge is different. To be creative within the confines of his roots. To us artists, the challenge has been to be create not only within the parameters but also within the parameters laid out by other traditions. I have to make myself be that and inject a little of myself with the other musicians and give a better view of what we are doing, what they are about and become a well informed artist.

On Art and Spirituality

When I am preparing and practicing for a concert it is a very private and intimate solemn reverent time. It is true that Lord Shiva played his dumroo and created those sounds, Lord Ganesha took those sounds , refined them and built a language of sounds with his Pakavach . That is what we play,the roots are in godness. Saraswati is the goddess of learning Krishna plays the flute and so on. But when you go on stage, you are booked on as a performer. You are there to entertain. I don’t want to lay my intimate trips on to the audience. If they feel the spirit in my performance fine, if they feel the reverence fine, if they feel some kind of connection, fine. I am going to approach my music with that knowledge. I am going to sit on stage, interact with the audience and connect with them. This is an incredible art form. I am having a great time and I want to share it with them. Enjoy it, be happy

On the future of Tabla

Premier instrument in the world. A sound that is evoked many times. Definitely, Tabla has arrived. Lot of people are learning it. Each teacher in India is having 150 to 200 students. Future looks bright. There are a lot of Amateur teachers out there. This is both good as well as dangerous. Many want to learn it because it is the in thing to do, a fad ad drop out later. But the good part is 20% of these will stick to it. The classical art form is an intimate art form. It is chamber art form. It does not compete with popular art forms. Classical music has grown tremendously and three times the rate of popular music.

On his family and On what a typical day is like

A typical day consists of a lot of practice and more practice and spending time with my family . I also like gardening and cooking at home. My wife Antonio is a Kathak dancer and she helps me with my work at my office. My two daughters are also in the field of Arts. Anisa graduated from UCLA and is in filmmaking and video production. My second daughter Isabella is studying in Manhattan as a dance major.

Lokvani would like to thank Deepti Nijhawan and George Ruckert of Mithas in arranging this interview.

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