May 2, 1996-Vol27n28: Indian percussionist ensemble to perform May 3

Indian percussionist ensemble to perform May 3

By MARY BETH SPINA
News Services Staff

AN ENSEMBLE of internationally known Indian percussionists, headed by Grammy-winner Ustad Zakir Hussain, will perform on Friday, May 3, at the University at Buffalo.
The concert at 7:30 p.m. in Slee Concert Hall on the North Campus, is sponsored by the local non-profit group Triveni, which annually brings the best in Indian music and dance to the Buffalo area. The UB Department of Music is a co-sponsor.
Hussain also will give a free lecture on Indian percussion music from noon to 1 p.m. in room B-1 in Slee.
Advance tickets are $15 for the public and $10 students and senior citizens, and $20 and $12, respectively, at the door. For more information call Super Bazaar at 835-4770 or Travel House International at 835-2141.
The ensemble features:

Hussain, master tabla player who is known in the West as one of the chief architects of the world music movement and co-producer with the Grateful Dead's Mickey Hart of the Grammy-winning album, "Planet Drum." He's equally at home playing Indian classical music and performing with Western jazz, fusion and rock artists. Among his "works in progress" is a spectacular 100-percussion production number on which he and Hart are collaborators for opening ceremonies in Atlanta at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Ustad Allarakha, tabla master and Hussain's father. He toured for two decades with Indian performer Ravi Shankar and has scored music for more than 35 films. He has received the "Padma Shri" award from the President of India, among others, for his cultural contributions.

Fazal Qureshi, Hussain's brother, soloist and accompanist on the tabla. He is noted for his ease in accompanying veteran and young Indian classical musicians-featuring the distinct styles of Northern and Southern India-as well as Western instrumentalists.

Bhavani Shankar, performer on both the tabla and pakhawaj. He has composed music for many films and recordings.

T.H. "Vikku" Vinayakram, India's leading ghatam player. He has performed with the great contemporary world music band "Shakti" and on the "Planet Drum" album.

Selva Ganesh, who specializes in the kanjira and is the recipient of several awards, including "Best Young Kanjira Artist."

Ustad Sultan Khan, one of the foremost players of the sarangi, a stringed instrument that some say is most like the human voice. Khan in 1974 joined Beatle George Harrison and Ravi Shankar on the "Dark Horse" tour.