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Maestro's tabla bytes

The tabla is a whole galaxy to be explored and discovered, says Ustad Zakir Hussain

Ustad Zakir Hussain can be charming, witty but also — by reputation — temperamental. He doesn't hanker after attention, certainly not from the media. It is possible that he is plain tired of giving the same answers to the same questions.But he can be forthcoming as he was in this interview. The ustad shared his views on music, tabla influences, Birju Maharaj and Trilok Gurtu.

How much time do you devote today between classical and world music?

I don't classify music. Music is music. It doesn't matter who I play with. I don't differentiate between styles. I just look at the appropriate cycle in any zone and I play. There are no prepared notebook, no rules. My upbringing is tabla. I can't but be a tabla player. What I think is what I can do with the tabla wherever I am playing.

How often do you play with Trilok Gurtu these days? One of those wonderful percussionists like yourself.

I, a percussionist ? No, I am a tabla player.

Oh. Okay. Is that how you classify yourself?

Actually no, I was pulling your leg. Yes, I am a percussionist, but you should know Trilok is a drummer, not just a percussionist. These are two different things. (Zakir makes all the percussion and drumming sounds to indicate the difference) I've always been playing with him and I play regularly. Trilok is a fabulous thinker on the drums, a technically superb performer. He has an ability that is much greater than he is given credit for. His interpretation of rhythms is just amazing. I don't know anyone like him on the drums.

You enjoy performing with Birju Maharaj so much...

It's fun and challenging to perform with Birju Maharaj. He is the ultimate in Kathak, a great master of the art, the last word. He's also a fabulous drummer. He creates space to display your ability, allows the tabla player to perform, to have fun. He challenges you in your own language. He is the ultimate in playing with taans.

What happens when you play with the greats - Ravi Shankar, Sultan Khan? What do they make of you?

I have grown up watching all these people and they've been watching me grow up. They are aware of what I am capable of, more than myself.

Whenever I play with them, seven out of 10 times, they can see if I've overlooked or missed something. A new twist, a new loop always appears. It is always a great learning experience on stage. The graph, though, has to go up.

It is said that your speed comes from Ahmed Jan Thirakwa though you did take a lot from your father too.

I have a cocktail of masters in me. You can't help being influenced by the masters. You will be. I like all of them. While the influences are with me, I've tried to develop my own way of expressing these influences. If I were just like my father or any one person, I would be a carbon copy that you would file away.

How much more of the tabla does one need to see?

Well, the tabla is a whole world in itself, a whole galaxy to be explored and discovered. We will always find things that we have not visualised, heard or thought of. This whole electronic touch to the tabla I thought wasn't possible. Likewise, there will be many things left undiscovered.

You enjoyed a terrific connect with your dad. How do you look back at him?

I was a child, son, student, colleague; I got to be a friend. It was great to be able to come together at all these levels. He could do no wrong as far as I was concerned. Yes, he travelled a lot but I felt very connected with him even then — all because of this instrument here...

Your observations on art and social causes.

People have valid needs and we need to address them. All I can do is put a smile on people, to take them away from negative energies, to make them forget for a while. If I can do it in a minuscule way with the tabla, I will do it. It is important to give to people. I don't want it like this, `Here's the money, play.'

PRASANTH G. N.

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