Vibrations

The man at the center of today’s tribute, Ustad Zakir Hussain, walked among the gods. He did so as if barefoot, in humility.

About ninety enthusiasts and musicians gathered in Virginia this morning to honor his life and legacy in music. Performers on tabla, harmonium, vocals, sitar, and other instruments praised the legendary tabla guru and shared memories of their time with him.

I was touched by my son’s tabla teacher who shared his first meeting with Zakir-ji in the early Eighties. He expressed a wish to study with the young maestro and the reply was, “Come.” Off he went, a three-day road-trip from Pennsylvania to spend months at the guru’s feet in California.

One take-away: “Be obsessed.” Obsession, the teacher emphasized, is a very good thing. It seems a sentiment that applies well to all passions and pursuits.

This story, further reflections on humility, and the beautiful vocals that followed took me back to the 2018 Bhopal Music Festival in Madhya Pradesh. There my son touched the feet of another great musician, bansuri master Hariprasad Chaurasia.

Three years later, pandemic disruptions abated, we visited Chaurasia’s home in Mumbai to celebrate Krishna Jayanthi. I was stunned that this renowned flautist remembered our encounter in Bhopal, then humbled at the genuine delight he took in meeting my other son, a bansuri student.

The humility of these titans of music astounds.

I had the chance to attend a Zakir Hussain performance not long after. He had a bad cold that day but, hey, the show must go on. He performed, boyish as ever, shaking those great locks as he beat time and rhythm in patterns beyond my comprehension.

Today’s performers, in white kurtas and legs wrapped in shawls, followed the encomium to play freely. The five-hour tribute ended with four tabla players sharing the stage and driving vibrations up through the roof and out into the world.

Be open and ready for a positive swing in the vibrations. Let them bring joy and satisfaction our way.

Humility. Play freely. Be obsessed.

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Special acknowledgement is given to those who dedicated their hours to making this event a success, including the host family, those who prepared food for so many, the sound engineers, and the artists.