USTAD  ZAKHIR  HUSSAIN

Zakir Hussain is today appreciated in
both the field of percussion and in the
music world at large as an international
phenomenon. A classical tabla virtuoso of
the highest order, his consistently brilliant
and exciting performances have not only
established him as a national treasure in
his own country, India, but gained him
fame all over the world for his many
accomplishments. The favorite
accompanist for many of India's greatest
classical musicians and dancers, from Ali
Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar to Birju
Maharaj, Hariprasad Chaurasia and
Shivkumar Sharma, he has not let his
genius rest there.

Zakir's contribution to world music has
been unique, with many historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded
with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music,
Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, and recordings and performances with artists as
diverse as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente,
Pharoah Saunders, Billy Cobham the Hong Kong Symphony and the New Orleans
Symphony. His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational
dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study.

In 1987, his first solo release, "Making Music", was acclaimed "one of the most
inspired East-West fusion albums ever recorded". In 1988 he was the youngest
percussionist ever to be awarded the title "Padma Shri" by the Indian Government, a
title given to civilians of merit. In 1990 he was awarded the Indo-American Award,
in recognition for his outstanding cultural contribution to relations between the United
States and India.

Zakir's compositional skills can also be heard on the recently released soundtracks for
the films "In Custody" and Bertolucci's "Little Buddha".

In April 1991, he was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by the
President of India, making him one of the youngest musicians to recieve this
recognition from India's governing cultural institute. In 1992, Planet Drum, an album
co-created and produced by Zakir and Mickey Hart, was awarded a Grammy for
Best World Music Album, the Downbeat Critics Poll for Best World Beat Album and
the NARM Indie Best Seller Award for World Music Recording.