In
addition to rendering the traditional
music of India, Zakir
Hussain orchestrates film scores and
works in the eclectic musical surroundings
of Micky Hart's Planet Drum. Besides
his musical pursuits, he has appeared
in the movie Heat and Dust.
Zakir's
father, the great Ala Racca, was the first
musician to bring Western recognition
to tabla when he worked with Ravi Shankar
in the 1960's. Zakir was drawn to the
LP
Granite Blocks, instruments he says
are perfect for playing with traditional
finger technique. He particularly enjoys
the evenness of the sound he gets from
an array of blocks. Adding an LP
Udu Drums to this setup, he conjures
a magical blend of timbres.
