Zakir Hussain, the most prominent performer on the tabla, the tuned drum that is part of Indian ensembles playing classical ragas, has died at 73.
Hussain, a mainstay of groups led by sitar master Ravi Shankar and other Indian classical artists, also regularly collaborated with Western classical, jazz and folk musicians, making him a leading voice in cross-cultural and “world” music.
In a New York Times obituary, Jon Pareles quotes Hussain’s remarks upon receiving the 2022 Kyoto Prize, recognizing contributions to the arts: “I am from India representing the age-old tradition of North Indian classical music. The way it was played 500 years ago – same way it is being played now, performed now. The difference now is we not only are doing our music, Indian classical music, but we are also learning how to be able to talk our music in as many different musical languages as possible, because the world has become small.”