The program is being presented in honor of the great late tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, a giant in Indian and world music.

Master violinist/vocalist/composer L. Shankar (aka Shenkar) is renowned for his deeply soulful performances of Indian classical music. Since playing his first solo concert at the age of seven, he has gone on to accompany many of South India’s leading vocalists and become a major soloist.  In the 1970s, with John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Vikku Vinayakram, and Ramnad Raghavan, he co-founded the legendary Indo-jazz group Shakti.

In the 1980s, he introduced a 10-string double violin capable of covering the whole range of the orchestra’s string section from violin to double bass. To date he has continued to expand the international audience for Indian music, often combining North Indian (Hindustani) and South Indian (Carnatic) styles.

For this performance, he will be accompanied by V. Selvaganesh, who was a member of Remember Shakti and toured with Zakir Hussain’s Masters of Percussion; Amit Kavthekar, who studied with Alla Rakha and Zakir Hussain, and is regarded as one of the top-ranking tabla  players of his generation; and Swaminathan Selvaganesh, who has been lauded as one of the top kanjira players of his generation.

L. Shankar violin, voice
V. Selvaganesh mridangam (double-headed barrel drum), kanjira (small frame drum),  konakkol (vocal percussion)
Amit Kavthekar tabla (tuned hand drums)
Swaminathan Selvaganesh kanjira, konakkol

“Dazzling virtuosity” —London Times

“Fire and imagination” —New York Times

This event is a coproduction with Robert Browning Associates and Lotus Music & Dance.