RIP. Saw the guy several times, mostly with Mickey's bands but once with John McLaughlin doing their Shakti thrash raga thing. Dude's hands were going at the tablas so fast it created an optical phenomena where his hands looked like the were moving backwards, sort of like how fan blades look sometime.
That's weird about Instagram flagging your post Llollo. Zakir is so gangsta.
Hummingbird wings is how I've always described it.
The amazing thing about that is the first time I saw Zakir he was performing with his father, the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha, in a little church in Berkeley in 1982 and his father's hand speed and fluency absolutely blew Zakir away. I understood that night why those two were revered as holy men in India.
(I was there because Mickey Hart was performing an opening set with Zakir, likely added to help sell tickets. Discovering Zakir is just one more thing I have the Grateful Dead to thank for)
I became a life-long fan after that night and have seen Zakir countless times since. He is one of my all-time favorite musicians, right up there on my Mt. Rushmore with Jerry, Phil and Wayne Shorter.
For the past 16 years I've kept yearly show lists with scores, short reviews and a top-ten at the end of each year. Last year I was bored and I went through each top-ten list and made a top-ten overall best shows list. Zakir was involved or the leader of three of the top ten, including the #1 & #2 top shows I've seen in the past 16 years.
#1 was him sitting in with the Charles Lloyd Quartet, an UNREAL show, #2 was him and Joshua Redman performing together as a duo. It was complete improv since Zakir mentioned that he & Joshua had never met and his plane was late that day so they only had 20 minutes to work out what they were going to do. It was natural brilliance on display.
There are many broken hearts over this news today, with many tributes coming in.
On December 15 at 3:42 pm, we lost one of the greatest rhythmists that has ever lived on this planet. Zakir Hussain was my brother for over 50 years, my closest collaborator, and my dearest friend. Over the years we have shared places reserved only for those whose lives are totally engulfed by drums.
As the son of the great Ustad Allarakha, my early mentor, Zakir was trained from birth in the classical tradition of North Indian music. His prodigy was fated, his role as a rhythm master had been cast.
As a teenager, Zakir had a dream that determined his future in America. For a time we lived together in Novato, California in a barn at my ranch. His skill at the young age of 19 was breathtaking. We embarked on our shared life journey of over 50 years of collaboration from the Diga Rhythm Band to Planet Drum, from the Thanksgiving dinner table with his wonderful family to Carnegie Hall. His wife, daughters and granddaughter were the lights of his life. Family was everything to Zakir.
His knowledge of both western and eastern world rhythms was unequaled. He had perfect pitch and total recall for the most complicated rhythmic cycles. His instruments were like the rains, dense sheets of sounds performed like blurs of lightning-fast fingers on small, tuned drums. With the skill of a surgeon, he weaved a rhythmic spell with each finger at the most rapid speeds that can be imaginable.
Saw him play a handful of times and every time it was an honor and a blessing. Most notable for me was with Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell in Santa Rosa 2018, but saw him with Planet drum a few times too. What a loss.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: DaBreeze
https://liveforlivemusic.com
https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/tabla-master-zakir-hussain-dead-at-73/...
RIP
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Respect.
Respect.
https://www.npr.org/2024/12/15/nx-s1-5229593/zakir-hussain-dead-india-sh...
An amazing talent.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
Devastating news.He was a
Devastating news.
He was a good & kind man, and as a musician he was a fucking genius.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Druba
Such a huge influence, RIP
Such a huge influence, RIP
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
I just saw him recently at
I just saw him recently at Cornell. Rip
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
His playing could get
His playing could get dangerous, but wtf?
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Guess he only sat in with the
Guess he only sat in with the GD once, at Alpine Valley 8/8/82 for Drums and til end of show.
I'm pretty sure the last time I saw him play was with Planet Drum at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington D.C. in 1991:
https://archive.org/details/mhb1991-11-23.aud.flac24
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Saw him & John Cippolina play
^^^^Saw him & John Cippolina play several 2nd set songs & the 1st encore. Great weekend shows in '82....^^^^
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Andy
True bummer
True bummer
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Woz
This one came as a shocker.
This one came as a shocker. RIP.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
RIP. Saw the guy several
RIP. Saw the guy several times, mostly with Mickey's bands but once with John McLaughlin doing their Shakti thrash raga thing. Dude's hands were going at the tablas so fast it created an optical phenomena where his hands looked like the were moving backwards, sort of like how fan blades look sometime.
That's weird about Instagram flagging your post Llollo. Zakir is so gangsta.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
LOL Ken I love the
LOL Ken I love the description you wrote about Zakir's hands!
I was able to repost the image and sing quickly... a little Zakir tribute in my Insta stories today.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
Hummingbird wings is how I've
Hummingbird wings is how I've always described it.
The amazing thing about that is the first time I saw Zakir he was performing with his father, the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha, in a little church in Berkeley in 1982 and his father's hand speed and fluency absolutely blew Zakir away. I understood that night why those two were revered as holy men in India.
(I was there because Mickey Hart was performing an opening set with Zakir, likely added to help sell tickets. Discovering Zakir is just one more thing I have the Grateful Dead to thank for)
I became a life-long fan after that night and have seen Zakir countless times since. He is one of my all-time favorite musicians, right up there on my Mt. Rushmore with Jerry, Phil and Wayne Shorter.
For the past 16 years I've kept yearly show lists with scores, short reviews and a top-ten at the end of each year. Last year I was bored and I went through each top-ten list and made a top-ten overall best shows list. Zakir was involved or the leader of three of the top ten, including the #1 & #2 top shows I've seen in the past 16 years.
#1 was him sitting in with the Charles Lloyd Quartet, an UNREAL show, #2 was him and Joshua Redman performing together as a duo. It was complete improv since Zakir mentioned that he & Joshua had never met and his plane was late that day so they only had 20 minutes to work out what they were going to do. It was natural brilliance on display.
There are many broken hearts over this news today, with many tributes coming in.
But it's good grief.
On it goes.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: It's me Dave open up!
(No subject)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: It's me Dave open up!
From Mickey Hart
From Mickey Hart
On December 15 at 3:42 pm, we lost one of the greatest rhythmists that has ever lived on this planet. Zakir Hussain was my brother for over 50 years, my closest collaborator, and my dearest friend. Over the years we have shared places reserved only for those whose lives are totally engulfed by drums.
As the son of the great Ustad Allarakha, my early mentor, Zakir was trained from birth in the classical tradition of North Indian music. His prodigy was fated, his role as a rhythm master had been cast.
As a teenager, Zakir had a dream that determined his future in America. For a time we lived together in Novato, California in a barn at my ranch. His skill at the young age of 19 was breathtaking. We embarked on our shared life journey of over 50 years of collaboration from the Diga Rhythm Band to Planet Drum, from the Thanksgiving dinner table with his wonderful family to Carnegie Hall. His wife, daughters and granddaughter were the lights of his life. Family was everything to Zakir.
His knowledge of both western and eastern world rhythms was unequaled. He had perfect pitch and total recall for the most complicated rhythmic cycles. His instruments were like the rains, dense sheets of sounds performed like blurs of lightning-fast fingers on small, tuned drums. With the skill of a surgeon, he weaved a rhythmic spell with each finger at the most rapid speeds that can be imaginable.
The world will never be the same without him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hello My Name Is
Saw him play a handful of
Saw him play a handful of times and every time it was an honor and a blessing. Most notable for me was with Charles Lloyd and Bill Frisell in Santa Rosa 2018, but saw him with Planet drum a few times too. What a loss.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: krab
Short article on Zakir's
Short article on Zakir's introduction to the GD at their Novato ranch by his father.
https://ragatip.com/how-a-teenage-zakir-hussain-ended-up-on-the-grateful...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: MeditateontheQ
^^^ that story was so cool!
^^^ that story was so cool!
Late last night on KBOO, Portland's community radio station, there was a 2-hr tribute to Zakir, including an interview from 2014.
Here's the recording -- it was a mesmerizing listening session:
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Kush presents a tribute to Ustad Zakir Hussain
https://kboo.fm/media/124596-kabhi-khushi-kabhie-kush-presents-tribute-u...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Scott
Saw the As We Speak tour.
Saw the As We Speak tour.