writing - visual - misc - huh?
zakir hussain has gathered a group of percussion masters and hit the road. if this traveling band comes your way, be sure to visit. you'll be treated to the tabla virtuosity of zakir, his younger brothers fazal qureshi (tabla) and taufiq qureshi (mixed percussion and vocals), ghatam (clay pot) master t.h. vinayakram, vijay chauan (folk drums), the violin duo of ganesh and kumaresh, and a few enthusiastic numbers by the manipuri jagoi marup folk dancing and drum troupe (think north indian capoeira).
there was also a fellow who played a drum kit, though i can't recall his name and he's not identified in the program - it's a pity because he was excellent and i'd like to hear some of his other work.
it's also fantastic going to a concert you are really anticipating and then being surprised by the scope of the show. that's how i felt when i read the concert program and saw that ustad sultan khan would be playing the sarangi. (check out his 1991 album sarangi on zakir's moment records). for those not familiar, the sarangi is a bowed instrument that resembles the human voice. sultan khansahib knows best how to kick you in the chest with the intensity of his playing.
in this tour zakir attempts to meld together both traditional and modern forms of percussion, illustrating a lineage of the drum. this approach doesn't always work, particularly when the modern drum kit drowns everyone else out. still, it is interesting to hear modern drums played to traditional tala structures.
i get excited with anticipation when the one man powerhouse t.h. vinayakram unbuttons his shirt because you know he's about to rock out. but he's playing just a clay pot, you say? you'll never look at one the same way again.
there is humour and narrative from zakir, as he explains certain things or jokes around. after watching a blazing ghatam solo he embarrasses t.h. vinayakram by telling him he can button his shirt back up now.
zakir seems to come to vancouver annually, and i can't wait to see what next year brings.
show at chan centre (ubc), vancouver, may 1, 2004
{May 09, 2004 02:52 PM}