Yesterday, I received a very sad news that Indian tabla master, composer, producer Zakir Hussain passed away. He was 73 years old. Zakir was known for bringing classical Indian music to a global audience. He was the eldest son of tabla player Alla Rakha, and won four Grammy Awards.
Last year, my whole family was invited to see a house concert of the quartet of Zakir Hussain (tabla), Bela Fleck (banjo), Edgar Meyer (double bass) and Rakesh Chaurasia (Indian flute). It was one of the most memorable concert experiences in my life. Besides the amazing music, I was extra happy to bring my parents (photo below) to see the mastery of these musician friends of mine. After the performance, I translated between my father and Zakir. Zakir told me to tell my father that he was very honored to perform for my father. My father was the oldest person in the room. The Indian and Chinese cultures share the same the value having high respect to elders. My two small children came too. They may not understand how special that night meant to them. One day, they will.
This guzheng and vocal improvisation is inspired by Zakir’s music and legacy. Rest in peace, maestro!
Wu Fei 吴非
You can buy my album Yuan from Tzadik records or from Amazon. My albums A Distant Youth and Pluck are available for purchase on Bandcamp.
Wufeimusic.com | hellogoldmountain.com | wufeimusic.substack.com
Share this post