Zakir Hussain and Taufiq Qureshi to collaborate with Niladri Kumar

When maestros say let's jam! Zakir Hussain and Taufiq Qureshi to collaborate with Niladri Kumar

Zakir Hussain, Taufiq Qureshi and Niladri Kumar

It is not every day that two luminaries of Indian classical music come together to create music, and when another music exponent joins in, we can certainly expect some magic. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, renowned percussionist Taufiq Qureshi and prodigal sitarist Niladri Kumar will come together for a collaboration of music this week for the event UPAJ that literally means harvest and metaphorically offers great products of Indian music.

Kumar, who is enthusiastic about the show, says that it is a great fortune to play with someone like Zakir Hussain. "In our culture, we pray to the gods and goddesses using our instruments, and gods too play instruments. It is that divine experience that we get from the impact of Hussain's performance," says Kumar describing his experience of performing with the maestro.

"It is his greatness that he calls it a collaboration. It is just a great opportunity for us," he says. About Qureshi, with who he calls one of his closest partners, he says that it's fascinating to observe Qureshi's mastery of the djembe, which is an African instrument, and to play an unique repertoire of music."

Qureshi reciprocates when he says that it makes him comfortable to perform with Kumar as he has seen him grow from close quarters into one of India's leading musicians. "Notwithstanding his stature, Zakir bhai makes all the artistes on stage comfortable and hence one can hope to try and give one's best," Qureshi signs off.

On Tonight, 7.30 pm onwards
At Shanmukhananda Hall, Comrade Harbanslal Marg, Sion (E).
CALL 24078888