ZUM TOD DES INDISCHEN TABLA-MEISTERS ZAKIR HUSSAIN

Der am 9. März 1951 in Bombay geborene indische Musiker Zakir Hussain (Bild) ist am 15. Dezember 2024 in San Francisco gestorben. Er galt als der profilierteste Tabla-Spieler seiner Zeit. Neben der Tabla spielte er u.a. die indischen Röhrentrommeln Dhol, Dholak, Dholki und Khol sowie die Kesseltrommel Duggi. Ausserhalb Indiens ist er vor allem für seine Mitwirkung bei John McLaughlins Gruppe Shakti sowie bei verschiedenen Perkussion-Ensembles (z. B. Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum, Rhythm Experience) und durch seine Zusammenarbeit mit Musikern wie George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Jack Bruce, Tito Puente, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Mickey Hart, Trilok Gurtu oder Bill Laswell bekannt. Die nordindische Musiktradition, aus der er kam, spielte aber immer die bedeutendste Rolle in seinem musikalischen Schaffen. Wie er selbst sagte, spielte er zu 80 Prozent klassische indische Musik. Dass er als Musiker in seiner Heimat längst anerkannt war, zeigt sich auch darin, dass er ein gefragter Mitmusiker von Meistern wie Ravi Shankar (Sitar), Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod), Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santur) oder dem Kathak-Tänzer Birju Maharaj war. (*)

Zakir Hussain, 2001 - Foto: Sven.petersen, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sven.petersen - Public domain - Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zakir_Hussain_Munich_2001.JPG

Bild: Zakir Hussain, 2001 – Foto: Sven.petersen, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Sven.petersen – Public domain – Datei: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zakir_Hussain_Munich_2001.JPG

Zakir Hussain: The Ustad of the Ustads

The world of music lost a gem with the demise of Ustad Zakir Hussain. The renowned tabla player passed away due to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in San Francisco, California at the age of 73. The late musician rendered new dimensions to Indian music as he took the culture and the humility associated with our music, across the world.

Zakir, who was born on March 9, 1951 in Mumbai, was the eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha, and is widely considered as one of the greatest tabla players of all time. As much as a great musician he was, the Ustaad was also known for his nature, his conduct on stage and his respect for the art and fellow artists.

He struck a chord with every generation and every set of listeners owing to his exceptional skills, his charm and the ability to blend in with every genre. The sight of him belting out his prowess on tabla for a tea brand is a core memory of every 1990s kid.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/music/news/zakir-hussain-the-ustad-of-the-ustads/articleshow/116356118.cms#goog_rewarded

Zakir Hussain, legendary tabla virtuoso, dies at 73, tributes pour in

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed his condolences over Hussain’s passing and described him as a «cultural ambassador who bridged borders and generations with his mesmerizing rhythms».
«The Padma Vibhushan tabla maestro and percussionist, gloriously took forward the legacy of his father with exceptional performances and collaborations. His numerous national and international honours are a testament to this,» he added.

Meanwhile, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the tabla maestro a «beacon of India’s rich musical heritage and a true custodian of classical traditions».

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/zakir-hussain-legendary-tabla-virtuoso-dies-at-73-confirms-family-101734308952371.html

Zakir Hussain, Grammy-Winning Indian Musician, Dies at 73

“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,” a statement from his family confirming his death, said.

Hussain was recognized with four Grammy Awards over the course of his career. His first Grammy came in 2009 for Best World Music Album with “Global Drum Project,” a collaboration with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead. He added three more Grammys in 2024, for Best Global Music Performance for “Pashto,” Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for “As We Speak” and Best Global Music Album for “This Moment.”

Naman Ramachandran

https://variety.com/2024/music/obituaries-people-news/zakir-hussain-dead-tabla-1236249604/

Zakir Hussain, legendary tabla virtuoso who defied genres, dies at 73

He defied genres and collaborated with an impressive range of musicians, including jazz saxophonist Charles Lloyd, bluegrass artists Edgar Meyer and Béla Fleck, as well as rockstars George Harrison and Van Morrison. His versatility earned him the rare distinction of performing twice on NPR’s Tiny Desk — once in 2010 and then in 2023.

«You know, you come from India and you say, ‚OK, I’m representing a 3,000-year-old history,‘ so you think you’re gonna teach the world about rhythms and drums and so on,» he told NPR in 2015. «And then you arrive here. You suddenly realize that you know nothing. You’re just one little dot in the painting that is the music of the universe.»

Juliana Kim

https://www.npr.org/2024/12/15/nx-s1-5229593/zakir-hussain-dead-india-shakti-tabla

Zakir Hussain, Peerless Indian Tabla Player, Dies at 73

Considered a national treasure in his native India, Mr. Hussain won four Grammy Awards and collaborated with a range of superstar artists that included the cellist Yo-Yo Ma, the jazz master Charles Lloyd, the sitarist Ravi Shankar and George Harrison of the Beatles.

Yan Zhuang

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/15/arts/music/zakir-hussain-dead.html

Zakir Hussain, Indian tabla maestro, dies in S.F. at 73

He moved from Mumbai to Marin County in the 1970s and worked with the region’s musicians, frequently playing shows at SFJazz. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the institution in 2017. He was also a composer, creating concertos, scoring films and collaborating with dance companies such as Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet. A passionate teacher, he mentored countless aspiring musicians over the years.

Shwanika Narayan

https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/zakir-hussain-dead-sf-19982911.php

Remembering the man who became Indian music’s global ambassador

Hussain’s journey, from a child prodigy to an internationally celebrated percussionist, was a masterclass in balancing tradition and innovation. Hussain’s life revolved around rhythm from the very beginning. The sound of the tabla was his first language, his earliest «words». By the age of 12, he was already performing globally, accompanying stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan during his teenage years. While rooted in the Hindustani classical tradition, Hussain possessed an insatiable curiosity that propelled him to explore other genres, leading to ground-breaking collaborations across the world.

Sudha G Tilak

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwype77kwyjo

Muere Zakir Hussain, maestro de tabla y leyenda de la música india, que colaboró con grandes músicos de rock y jazz

Entre quienes han lamentado su muerte se encuentra el presidente de la India, Narendra Modi. «Profundamente entristecido por la muerte del legendario maestro de tabla Ustad Zakir Hussain Ji. Será recordado como un verdadero genio que revolucionó el mundo de la música clásica india. También llevó la tabla al escenario global, cautivando a millones con su ritmo sin parangón», ha escrito Modi.

https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20241216/muere-zakir-hussain-maestro-tabla-leyenda-musica-india-colaboro-con-grandes-musicos-rock-jazz/16373394.shtml

Zakir Hussain, morto il maestro indiano di tabla

Considerato il più grande suonatore della tabla, il più popolare strumento a percussione della musica classica indiana, nella sua carriera di 60 anni Hussain ha avuto modo di collaborare con artisti del calibro del cantautore George Harrison, del sassofonista Charles Lloyd, del batterista Mickey Hart e del violoncellista Yo-Yo Ma.

https://www.repubblica.it/spettacoli/musica/2024/12/16/news/zakir_hussain_morto_il_maestro_indiano_di_tabla-423889224

Mort du grand musicien indien Zakir Hussain, virtuose des tablas

Faire de la musique. Tel était l’enjeu d’une réunion au sommet autour des tablas de Zakir Hussain, dans une session pour le label ECM qui fera date. Près de quarante ans plus tard, à l’heure de l’annonce du décès de l’Indien dans un hôpital de San Francisco, où il vivait une partie de l’année, c’est ce disque simplement baptisé Making Music qui nous revient en mémoire. A ses côtés le flûtiste Hariprasad Chaurasia, le guitariste John McLaughlin et le saxophoniste Jan Garbarek, soit trois musiciens au diapason de cette intention qui sonne telle une évidence naturelle, au-delà de toutes querelles de chapelles. Nul ne renie ici ses origines, tous invitent à inventer un autre univers, un jazz qui n’en aurait plus vraiment le nom, une world music pas encore formatée produit marketing. Appelons ça la musique.

Jacques Denis

https://www.liberation.fr/culture/musique/mort-du-grand-musicien-indien-zakir-hussain-virtuose-des-tablas-20241216_GBBV3QRGBZAYZK2EGWV2SLTPL4

Der indische Trommel-Meister Zakir Hussain ist tot

Der Schlüssel für Hussains Erfolg war sein Können auf indischen Trommeln wie der Tabla. Schon sein Vater galt als Tabla-Virtuose und der Sohn galt nach ersten Auftritten im Alter von 12 Jahren als Wunderkind. Zeit seines Lebens fühlte sich Hussain der nordindischen Musiktradition verbunden, auch als er bereits international bekannt war. Er war für sieben Grammys nominiert, vier gewann er, drei davon allein in diesem Jahr. 2022 bekam er den Kyoto-Preis für Musik, der als japanisches Äquivalent zum Nobel-Preis gilt.

https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/der-indische-trommel-meister-zakir-hussain-ist-tot-100.html

Videos:

Diverse

https://www.youtube.com/@officialzakirhussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain at Kolkata