Sunday, March 20 at 3:00 p.m., Chicago's Symphony Center hosts world-renowned classical tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion together in concert. Hussain delivers an inspiring, genre-defying performance with fellow musicians Anantha Krishnan (Mridangam), Sabir Khan (Sarangi), Navin Sharma (Dholak), Mannargudi Vasudevan (Tavil), and Seiichi Tanaka (Taiko).
Since his Symphony Center debut in 2008, Hussain has returned several times, including his 2013 appearance on the Symphony Center Presents Jazz series as a special guest with the Herbie Hancock Quartet.
Widely considered one of the chief architects of the contemporary world music movement and a national treasure in his native India, Hussain has contributed to a number of unique and historic collaborations. His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study.
Hussain, a dedicated disciple of his father, legendary tabla player Ustad Allarakha, crafted the Masters of Percussion tour as an outgrowth of the successful tours of the West that he made with his father, beginning in 1996.
For the 2016 Masters of Percussion program Hussain has assembled a unique collective of musicians. Anantha R. Krishnan is the grandson and disciple of maestro Vidwan Shri. Palghat R. Raghu.
Sabir Khan is the ninth generation of his family to take up Sarangi and is considered one of the beacons of the younger generation and the wonderful product of a greatly talented lineage. He is particularly well known for his exceptional technique, a unique combination of sur and laya (note and rhythm).
Navin Sharma, a master of the Dholak, also studied with Hussain's father and has played with many masters across India, in genres that include jazz, fusion, pop, rock, gazal and bhajan.
Mannargudi Vasudevan is best known as Vasu and is widely recognized the world's foremost performer on the Tavil, a barrel-shaped drum prominent in Carnatic music. He has performed all over the United States, Europe, and in Malaysia.
Seiichi Tanaka is a master of the Japanese Taiko drum, who established the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Acting as father of the art form in America, Tanaka's work was recognized in 2001 with a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Tickets for Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Percussion March 20 concert can be purchased online at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's official website, by phone at 1-800-223-7114 or at the Symphony Center box office: 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604.
