ZAKIR HUSSAIN, TABLA

WITH RAKESH CHAURASIA, BANSURI

Tuesday, March 13, 2018, at 7:30pm
Tryon Festival Theatre
PROGRAM
ZAKIR HUSSAIN, TABLA
WITH RAKESH CHAURASIA, BANSURI

This performance will be announced from the stage.

Zakir Hussain and Rakesh Chaurasia appear by arrangement with:

IMG Artists
7 West 54th Street
New York, NY 10019
212.994.3513

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PROFILES
The preeminent classical tabla virtuoso of our and Officier in France’s Order of Arts and Letters.
time, ZAKIR HUSSAIN is appreciated both in In 2015, he was voted “Best Percussionist” by
the field of percussion and in the music world at both the Downbeat Critics’ Poll and Modern
large as an international phenomenon. A national Drummer’s Reader’s Poll.
treasure in his native India, he is one of the
world’s most esteemed and influential musicians, As an educator, he conducts many workshops
renowned for his genre-defying collaborations. and lectures each year, has been in residence
at Princeton University and Stanford University,
Widely considered a chief architect of the and in 2015 was appointed Regents’ Lecturer at
contemporary world music movement, Hussain’s UC Berkeley. He is the founder and president of
contribution has been unique, with many historic Moment! Records, an independent record label
and groundbreaking collaborations, including presenting rare live concert recordings of Indian
Shakti, Remember Shakti, Masters of Percussion, classical music and world music. Hussain was
Diga Rhythm Band, Planet Drum, Tabla Beat resident artistic director at SFJazz from 2013 until
Science, Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric 2016.
Harland, in trio with Bela Fleck and Edgar Meyer,
and most recently with Herbie Hancock. The On January 15, 2018, HarperCollins India released
foremost disciple of his father, the legendary Hussain's long-awaited oral memoir, (available
Ustad Allarakha, Hussain was a child prodigy who on Amazon), A Life in Music, by Nasreen Munni
began his professional career at the age of 12, Kabir. Kabir is a distinguished British television
touring internationally with great success by the producer, director, and author. The Life is the
age of 18. result of two years of intensive interviews.

As a composer, he has scored music for numerous “It is not only a pleasure to accompany Rakesh
feature films, major events, and productions. He Chaurasia in concert, but I must say that sitting
has composed two concertos, and his third, the with him on stage instills a great sense of pride
first-ever concerto for tabla and orchestra, was in me. He is one of the new breed of Indian
premiered in India in September 2015. It later classical musicians who have an admirable
premiered in Europe and the United Kingdom in grasp of many genres of music. To listen to
2016, and it was performed in the United States him and hear his musicality, his point of view
in April 2017 by the National Symphony Orchestra and approach to the ancient art form in which
at Kennedy Center. Hussain is a Grammy Award- he has received his training is really a breath
winner, and he is the recipient of countless of fresh air. He most certainly is a worthy
additional awards and honors. These include successor to his uncle, the greatly revered
Padma Bhushan, National Heritage Fellowship, flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.”
—Zakir Hussain

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RAKESH CHAURASIA, the nephew and child Despite his experimental work, Chaurasia has
prodigy of flute maestro Pandit Hariprasad never deviated from his main goal of becoming
Chaurasia, has a famous name to live up to. a full-fledged classical musician. He has regularly
Amongst the promising musicians of the second appeared in prominent festivals such as the
generation, Chaurasia has carved a niche for WOMAD festival in Athens, WOMAD Earth
himself as an accomplished flautist. Infusing Station in Europe, and the “Festivals of India”
his personal style with the tradition of his in Russia, Japan, United States, and Europe.
renowned uncle, he has evolved an approach His growing maturity and status has brought
which maintains the purity of the flute while also him invitations to perform solo at major events
managing to capture the attention of young within India and abroad, including the Festival
listeners. The most accomplished of his uncle’s of Saint-Denis in Paris and the Leicester
disciples, he promises to carry the Chaurasia International Music Festival in England. Most
legacy to new heights. notably, Chaurasia was invited to conclude the
24-hour live BBC Radio broadcast celebrating Her
Chaurasia’s flute has matched note and rhythm Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s Silver Jubilee, reaching
with wind instruments of other cultures as well audiences worldwide.
as having performed “jugalbandis” with Carnatic
and world-famous instrumentalists. Chaurasia’s Recently Chaurasia toured as a duo for classical
forte is in blending his flute without really concerts as well as for the Masters of Percussion
losing its identity in mixed instrument concerts. with legendary tabla virtuoso, Ustad Zakir
Chaurasia has already globe-trotted many times Hussain, at prestigious venues across the
over, enthralling audiences at classical and non- globe. Chaurasia has also performed with some
classical concerts. He is also an accomplished international names such as Bela Fleck, Edgar
studio musician, having recorded with most of the Meyer, and Joshua Redman.
leading stalwarts of the Indian film industry.
Chaurasia’s most recent venture is his fusion band
Chaurasia has been the recipient of numerous Rakesh and Friends (RAF). This group creates
awards and accolades. He received the Indian music that appeals to young people without
Music Academy Award, presented by the sacrificing the essence of classical music.
Honourable President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul
Kalam in 2007. Chaurasia also received Aditya Modest Chaurasia is the first to admit that he has
Birla Kalakiran Puraskar in 2008, Guru Shishya a lot to learn, not just from his legendary uncle
Award in 2011, IWAP-Pandit Jasraj Sangeet Ratna and maestro, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, but his
Award in 2013, and the Pannalal Ghosh Puraskar peers as well. He is destined to carve a niche for
2013. himself in the realm of Indian classical music with
the simple yet extremely challenging instrument,
the bansuri.