If the weekend’s Grammys have inspired you to broaden your musical horizon, then Indian classical tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain is here to help. Performing in Dubai On Thursday in a concert titled Nirvana 2013, he will be joined by Edgar Meyer (upright bass), Bela Fleck (banjo), U Srinivas (mandolin) and Rakesh Chaurasia (flute), whom between them, have over 43 Grammy nominations among them. Ahead of their concert at Shaikh Rashid Hall at Dubai World Trade Centre on Thursday, tabloid! caught up with Hussain.
In today's issue
Zakir Hussain: Expect a dynamic concert
Expect a dynamic concert with five musicians who enjoy playing music together, says tabla maestro Zakir Hussain of Thursday's Dubai gig
- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 10:58 February 13, 2013
- Image Credit: Supplied
- Zakir Hussain
Excerpts from the e-mail interview.
Q: You are returning to Dubai for a concert after a gap of four years. What should we expect from Nirvana 2013?
A: Expect a dynamic concert with five musicians who enjoy playing music together. It will be an interesting balance on stage as Western classical music, bluegrass and folk music play together with Indian classical music.
You will also get to hear the rhythmic repertoire in Indian classical sounds with elements of Latin, jazz, Afro-Cuban and Indian folk music. We promise an exciting evening.
Q: What do you think is the relevance of Indian classical music in today’s times?
A: Indian classical music is a source of inspiration to all new music. It is one of the premier forms of music recognised all over the world and this is also used as a sound-source by modern composers.
Q: Have you ever been tempted to tweak your traditional style to suit the tastes of the Justin Bieber-generation?
A: What is the Justin Bieber generation? Don’t sell this generation short. Today’s generation is the most diverse and versatile music listener.
Q: Is Indian classical music commercially viable a venture?
A: As I said earlier, Indian music is known the world over and Indian musicians are constantly travelling throughout the year performing at concert halls in all major cities of the world. Commercially viable? I would say absolutely.
Q: 2012 has been a grim year for the world of music. We have lost out on musical greats such as Pandit Ravi Shankar and Mehdi Hassan. Does their legacy make you evaluate your own music?
A: Indian music has shades of their legacy and I would say that it’s not that I have to evaluate my music in light of masters who have passed away. I would use the word ‘inspire’. I have been inspired by both the artists you have mentioned.
Q: If there’s one musical legacy that you would like to leave behind, what would it be and why?
A: I hope I have helped in creating a sense of self-belief among today’s young musicians.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception about Indian classical music that you have helped obliterate through your music?
The biggest misconception about Indian classical music is that it’s irrelevant and not commercially viable.
Q: Tell us about your future plans?
A: Bela [Fleck], Edgar [Meyer] and I will play with the Symphony Orchestra of India in Muscat and head to Mumbai. The rest of this year promises to be quite special. The SFJazz Festival is opening a new centre in San Francisco and has chosen to showcase my music over five nights in March as a part of its inaugural season. After that, I will tour with my long-time colleague Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. Then in autumn, I will embark upon a Remember Shakti tour.
Q: If you could collaborate with one musician, who would it be and why?
A: It’s impossible for me to answer this question because there’s miles to go before I sleep.
Q: Are you influenced by popular sounds or do you think the two don’t really mix?
A: I have been influenced by the constantly changing landscape of music from all corners of the world. If one listens carefully, it is evident in my music.
CANNES SPECIAL COVERAGE
-
Liberace relationship movie dazzles at Cannes
Reuters
Michael Douglas, Matt Damon star in story about pianist’s secret five-year affair
-
All-star crime thriller flops at Cannes
AFP
Cotillard and partner Canet’s Blood Ties aims to evoke character-driven movies of 1970s
-
Cannes Diary: Behind-the-scenes news
By Abdullah Al Ka’abi, Special to tabloid!
Emirati director writes exclusively for tabloid! from the world’s most prestigious film festival
Most Popular in Entertainment
- Swift disgusted by Gomez-Bieber kiss
- Review: Fast and Furious 6
- Justin Bieber’s loss is Germany’s gain
- Bradley Cooper a mama’s boy?
- Native American actresses walk Cannes red carpet
- UAE cinema listings: May 16-22
- Jennifer Lawrence returns for next X-Men film
- Deepika clears the air about SRK
- Brad Pitt has ‘very few friends’
- Star Trek co-writer apologises for flimsy scene
Latest from Entertainment
- Sanjay Dutt shifted to Pune’s Yerwada Jail
- Shayan Munshi to be charged with perjury
- Bring Raj, Prithviraj back to make Awara: Ranbir
- Star Trek co-writer apologises for flimsy scene
- Bradley Cooper a mama’s boy?
- Furore over Ke$ha’s drink
- Pitt passes on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- Mad Men actress mum over dad
- Brad Pitt has ‘very few friends’
- Russia slams outrageous Eurovision scandal
- George Michael making good progress from injury
- Eminem’s publisher files suit over song usage
- Carol Burnett to win top US humour prize
- Justin Bieber’s loss is Germany’s gain
- Muppets creator’s items head to New York museum
- Potter book with author notes sold for $228,000
- Ang Lee says no to new US television series
- Bolivia lashes at Sean Penn over jailed American
- Toback, Baldwin eye Cannes film-making underbell
- Nick Jonas, Giuliana Rancic to host Miss USA
- Lawyer: No background check on Jackson doctor
- Liberace relationship movie dazzles at Cannes
- Review: Fast and Furious 6
- Carole King honoured with US pop music prize
- Rapper Chief Keef arrested at hotel near Atlanta
Multimedia
