Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Wednesday, 18 December 2024
The tributes are still pouring in for Ustad Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro who passed away on December 15 in San Francisco from a chronic lung disease.
“On December 15 at 3:42 pm, we lost one of the greatest rhythmists that has ever lived on this planet,” Mickey Hart, percussionist with the band Grateful Dead, posted on social media.
As a teenager in late sixties and America, Zakir Hussain hung out with the Dead and their association goes back a long way.
“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,” Hart wrote.
“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,” Hart continued. “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,” Hart added.
Ustad Zakir Hussain used to babysit me: Bickram Ghosh
Tabla exponent Bickram Ghosh also shared his memories.
“I knew Zakir ji all my life,” Ghosh told The Telegraph Online.
“I knew him from the time I was 3 years old and I was living in America where my parents were teaching in a music college. For a time, we used to stay in the same house; me and my parents on the upper floor and Zakir ji on the ground floor. He used to babysit me as well when my parents would go for concerts. He was quite young, 18 to 19 years old, at that time. He also had a car, and he used to take me out, gifting me t-shirts and comic books.”
Their bond grew stronger over the years, Ghosh remembered.
“Throughout my life, at various stages, we kept meeting. He would advise me on my career, on how to move ahead – like an elder brother and a guide. As an artiste, he was like God. Everybody admired him. The way he conducted himself on stage was not only classy but also down to earth in many ways.”
Ghosh said Zakir Hussain’s passing was a huge personal loss for him.
“For the world of music, there has been none like him. India has lost one of its artistic ambassadors on a global stage, and when there would be another like Zakir Hussain is a big question now.”
Ghosh remembered how Zakir Hussain’s playful and loving nature remained unchanged through the years.
“Last year when he came, we hung out. He was still pulling my leg and speaking to my little one, asking him not to listen to me in a funny tone. He cuddled him the same way he cuddled me when I was a child. The same day he passed away, one year back, we were in Goa together on the same day. It feels surreal,” Ghosh said.
“I believe every generation takes from their peers. He took from his and I took from mine. I don’t believe in copying anybody, but his presence, his artistry, and his love for music were inspiring.” he added.
The world has lost a Hero: Vinie Colaiuta
The world of percussions beat as one in remembering the man who weaved magic with bare fingers on stretched skin.
“A world treasure, his brilliance was known to all, yet his humanity was its equal,” wrote drummer Vinie Colaiuta, who has played with Sting, the late Jeff Beck and countless other global giants.
“The greatest. Ebullient, funny, a great sense of humor and the apex of brilliance. Just astounding with every note. Sir, it has been an honor. Picture below was the time he brought me to India and I will never forget it. He celebrated my birthday with a huge party after his annual concert where we played together. The world has lost a Hero,” Colaiuta added.
Alla Rakha ji was stressed with Zakir playing with rock bands: Ehsaan Noorani
In the music world, the encomiums for Zakir Hussain were not restricted to percussionists.
“Zakir was a blessing to music, a blessing to everyone who knew him and interacted with him,” wrote Ehsaan Noorani, guitar player and part of Bollywood composer trio-Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy.
“I performed / jammed with him a couple of times …. He could read your mind and anticipate what you were going to play . His groove was so strong and big I always felt like it was a comfortable mattress that you could lean back on and improvise . Zakir will be celebrated through his music for aeons . Maybe years from now there will be another maestro like him ………till then, Alvida Zakir Bhai,” Ehsaan added.
Ehsaan later told The Telegraph Online: “Zakir ji was so complete as a musician and familiar with all styles of music. I remember him once saying in an interview that he went to America so that he can be exposed to different kinds of music there and then when he went there he landed up playing with all kinds of artistes there like Mickey Hart. He was always eager to learn. I can recall a very funny story when Alla Rakha ji was apparently very stressed with Zakir playing with all these rock bands, that he would lose his hearing someday as they were so loud. He would always check out what I have posted on Instagram, he would always like it and comment on it. Just last year he was on a tour and a friend of mine who lives in Chicago, who was very friendly with Zakir, from him he found out that its my birthday, and he quickly said oh lets record a video and send it to Zakir, he did not need to do that, but it was so sweet of him to do. These are the memories that stay.”
Zakir Bhai was an omnipresent, god-like figure: Dhruv Ghanekar
Mumbai-based composer and guitar player Dhruv Ghanekar also recalled his association with Zakir Hussain.
“As a musician growing up in Bombay, Zakir Bhai was an omnipresent, god-like figure. His groundbreaking work in the 1970s and 80s with John McLaughlin not only placed Indian music firmly on the global map but also opened doors for Indian musicians to experiment and collaborate with other cultures. This was a profound moment for Indian musicians. Indian music suddenly felt hip and validated, inspiring millions of young lions across the world to follow in his footsteps” Ghanekar wrote on his social media handle.
“For those of us fortunate enough to be in his orbit, Zakir Bhai’s warmth, humor, and lightness of being were unforgettable. He had a unique way of conducting himself that uplifted everyone around him. He was a wonderful human being —humble to a fault, unassuming, wickedly funny, extraordinarily charismatic, and endlessly helpful.
“I had the privilege of being around him multiple times, both in India and abroad, and these encounters left me with countless cherished memories. One of my earliest experiences with Zakir Bhai was during the shooting of the film Saaz (1997).
“The world has lost a giant. Though his music will live on forever, his magical aura will be deeply missed. Love you, Zakir Bhai. You will live in my heart forever” he added.
