A monumental figure in Indian music and we will be publishing a longer piece shortly…
ONE OF INDIA’S greatest ambassadors of classical music – Zakir Hussain has passed away, aged 73.
The great tabla player who lived in the US, died in a hospital in San Francisco some time a little before midnight UK time (GMT) last night (Sunday, December 15).
He was said to be suffering from high blood pressure and a heart and lung problems and had been in intensive care for some days – with his condition seriously deteriorating to the point where some news media were reporting his demise prematurely in the morning (GMT) yesterday.
His family issued a statement conforming his death from “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis”. This is a form of scarring of the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe.
In a statement given to the Indian press agency, Press Trust of India, the family, confirming his demise, said: “His prolific work as a teacher, mentor, and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time.”
His death has prompted a huge outpouring of grief from practically every corner of the globe. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was moved to comment on X. “Deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji. He will be remembered as a true genius who revolutionized the world of Indian classical music. He also brought the tabla to the global stage, captivating millions with his unparalleled rhythm. Through this, he seamlessly blended Indian classical traditions with global music, thus becoming an icon of cultural unity.
His iconic performances and soulful compositions will contribute to inspire generations of musicians and music lovers alike. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the global music community.”
Zakir Hussain lived in California and performed in the UK and Europe routinely and is also well-known for his many collaborations and also composed for orchestras and film.
He was supposed to perform at London Jazz Festival at the Barbican in October but had to pull out because of growing health concerns, according to London sources – though he did continue to promote performances in the US until October.
www.asianculturevulture.com saw him play with the veterans fusion band Shakti in Hammersmith, London in the summer of 2023 as part of the Shakti50 tour.
They performed tracks from their most album, ‘This moment’ which won The Grammy earlier this year – on what was a very special night for Indian musicians generally.
Zakir Hussain also won two individual awards on the evening: Best Global Music Performance for ‘Pashto’ and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for ‘As We Speak’. (For more see the link at the bottom of this).
We will have more including UK reaction soon…
Ustad Zakir Hussain leaves behind his wife, Antonia Minnecola and daughters Anisa Qureshi and Isabella Quereshi.
Zakir Hussain was born in Mahim, Mumbai and is the son of another legendary tabla maestro Ustad Alla Rakha (Alla Rakha Qureshi 1919-2000), who was the main tabla player for the great sitarist Ravi Shankar and similarly took Indian classical music around the world.
Main picture: Courtesy of Sama Arts
More soon…
