More than 50 artistes from India and abroad will gather at Mumbai’s National Centre for Performing Arts for Maestro Forever, a two day tribute marking the first death anniversary of tabla virtuoso Ustad Zakir Hussain. The event, scheduled for December 14 and 15, will feature an exceptional roster of performers including John McLaughlin, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Louis Banks and Shankar Mahadevan.
Among those taking part is tabla exponent Aditya Kalyanpur, whose association with Hussain began when he appeared alongside the maestro at the age of eight in the celebrated Wah Taj advertisement. Preparing for the tribute, he admits the moment remains difficult to grasp.
“I am still not able to process that this is a death anniversary for our guru. He believed in celebrating life through music and for all of us it is a blessing to offer this small hajri in his memory,” he said.
Kalyanpur noted that the scale of the gathering reflects Hussain’s far reaching influence. “He was a trailblazer. He inspired vocalists, instrumentalists and percussionists across genres and nationalities. With Pandit Ravi Shankar before him and then Zakir bhai’s generation, they opened the doors for all of us to travel the world and share the message of music,” he said.
He added that his relationship with Hussain extended beyond formal tutelage. “It was always like a father son bond. From him I learned humility, modesty and kindness. Those are lessons for life,” he said. Performing at the tribute, he added, carries a profound responsibility.
“I am playing with some of the greatest living legends. Every syllable of music will be in his honour. No musician can think of the tabla without thinking of Zakir ji.”
The tribute will also be attended by the late ustad’s wife Antonia, daughters Anisa and Isabella, and his brothers, bringing together family and the wider music community in remembrance of the iconic percussionist.
