April 09, 2008 Music » Betta Listen

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A heavy heartbeat made with the hands 

Zakir Hussain a master in art of Indian instrument

By
click to enlarge SUSANA MILLMAN - ON THE TABLA: Zakir Hussain
  • Susana Millman

  • ON THE TABLA: Zakir Hussain

There are two universal modes of human musical expression. One is the human voice. The other is percussion. Every cultural strain on the planet uses some form of percussion to express a unique musical style. Percussive beats can symbolize a ritual or procession or create the backbeat and rhythm of musical expression. The trance-inducing forces embedded in drums hark back to the evolutionary awakenings of humans.

Percussion legend Zakir Hussain's mastery lies in the rhythms and beats of tablas, the quintessential Indian percussion instruments. He is known as Ustad, a title bestowed upon a musician after years of performing and acquiring extraordinary skill. There's no stopping Ustad Zakir Hussain when his tablas start to talk and scat and begin the spell. Even while he is tuning his tablas, the natural spirituality of ancient India emerges and blankets the audience.

"This show is a showcase of drummers. We have a 70-something nagara player from Rajasthan along with the Manipur drummers," Hussain explained in a recent interview.

The dancing Manipur drummers are among the highlights of the evening. They tie their drums to their hips and dance and perform acrobatic feats and martial arts movements while playing and never miss a beat.

"It's an East meets West show," Hussain said. It's where the Manipur (a state in Eastern India) drummers meet the septuagenarian from Rajasthan (the desert state of Western India). And of course all the folk and Hindustani musical elements in between will be featured at this gathering of musicians including Ustad Sultan Khan (sarangi), Taufiq Qureshi (percussion), Niladri Kumar (sitar), Abbos Kosimov (doyra), Ram Kishan (nagara), Vijay Chauhan (folk drums) and the Meitei Pung Cholom Performing Troupe, aka the dancing drummers of Manipur.

"This is not a Zakir Hussain show, as the performers are masters in their own rights. I'm part of the show like a convener," he said, trying to avoid the spotlight. But don't let his humbleness fool you. Hussain is the quintessential master of the tablas. His techniques leave jaws locked in the open position. In an instant, he can go from tapping single notes to exploding with a tornado of otherworldly beats you didn't think a human could create.

Ustad Zakir Hussain is the prime force guiding and directing this collection of musicians seasoned in the art of improvisation. Hussain thrives on being challenged and improvisation is his signature. "Indian music allows you to improvise. If we were set in our ways, it wouldn't work," he said of the challenge of working with astute musicians. "When I go on stage, I want to go on and perform with the best available. I want to play with the best musicians in the world; that's what it's all about, me being able to learn something."

Hussain's work spans the world music spectrum, from his roots in Hindustani music to jazz and fusion, film scores and work with dub and rock bands. When he played with guitar great John McLaughlin in Clemson a few years ago, the air seemed to melt.

"I never tie musicians down to set ideas or try to set certain landmarks in the evening, so the freshness and the surprise elements remain," he said.

It was in the same spirit that Hussain founded Moment Records in 1992. Moment was devised to allow musicians to do projects close to their hearts. "At Moment Records, we do the project for music, not money," he said. "All recordings are live recordings so the moment is captured as it was. There are no overdubs or studio trickery, just music presented live. Indian music is best represented in its live environment; you can't get the same enjoyment from CD."

Zakir Hussain turned 57 last month and at one time performed as many as 180 shows per year around the world; he still does about 130 shows per year. He also produces recordings, composes music and film scores, and teaches tablas to advanced students.

He acted in several films years ago and when goaded why he didn't continue on that route, the humble master said, "I know my limits; I'm a tabla player, not an actor. You can't be good in all endeavors."

What about composing music for some of the myriad films coming out of Bollywood, India's prolific film industry? "I'm not there enough [in Mumbai]. You have to be constantly there [to make it work]."

Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion will perform at the Belk Theater on Sunday, April 13, beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $20-$39. For further details visit blumenthalcenter.org or call 704-372-1000.

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