Get set to welcome the Tabla Master

New Zealanders will have a rare opportunity to witness a sparkling performance of one of the world’s most widely respected Tabla masters as he performs in Auckland early next month.

Fazal Qureshi will present a concert at the Avondale College Auditorium on October 2 and also take time off to teach students who aspire to achieve proficiency in one of the finest musical instruments of India.

Auckland based Sargam School of Music Principal and Teacher Basant Madhur is organising the visit for the benefit of thousands of fans of the mastero.

Fazal is not only a Tabla artiste of immense reputation, but also belongs to a family of Ustads – he is the son of the late Allarakha Khan Qureshi and the younger brother of Zakir Hussain, who have enthralled millions of people around the world with their mastery in the art.

He said Tabla is the most versatile and complete percussion instrument in the world.

“It can be adapted to all genres of music, including Carnatic, Hindustani, Folk, Jazz, Pop and Rock. Versatility enables the Tabla to add a different dimension to a concert,” he told Indian Newslink from his Mumbai home in India.

He said the instrument had amazing attributes and brings out the best in rhythm and melody from the hands of exponents like Zakir Hussain.

But he failed to add his own name, indicating his humility.

His proficiency in the instrument, innovative spirit and affable manners have seen him on stage with some of the greatest musicians and instrumentalists of our times. They include his brother, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma (Santoor), Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia (Flute), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod), Ustad Sultan Khan (Sarangi), Dr Lakshminarayan Subramaniam and Lakshminarayan Shankar (Violin), Vikku Vinayagaram (Ghatam), Uppalapu Srinivas (Mandolin), Ustad Shahid Parvez (Sitar) and Sitara Devi (Kathak Dancer).

He said Indian Classical music has evolved to include an increasing mix of the Tabla in Carnatic Music and Mridangam and Ghatam in Hindustani version.

“Bollywood has its own take and hence one should not be judgmental. Although more inclined to the Western style of late, Bollywood music composers are open to experimentation and influence,” he said.

Fazal invites those keen on learning the Tabla to the Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music in India.

The forthcoming concert would also feature Jugalbandi sessions with Mr Qureshi and Dr Suresh Ramachandran respectively on the Tabla and Mridangam and Professor S D Madhur (Hindustani) and Dr Ashok Malur (Carnatic) on the violin.

Young artiste Roshan Raju will be the vocalist.