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Seated on stage at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall last fall, tabla master Zakir Hussain watched patiently as nimble-fingered sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan developed a striking melodic motif for the first in a series of ragas. Decked out in traditional robes, Hussain waited through the entire introductory part, known as the "alap," with his drums kept underneath cloth coverings. When he finally unveiled his tablas and began playing, all of the tension Khan had built with his sitar found wonderful relief in Hussain's solid rhythmic entrance. He established a groove with his beats, and the duo departed on a two-hour musical voyage. Throughout, Hussain presented a solid set of intense phrasings that were stunning in their complexity yet totally accessible in their natural pulse. The finest moment came at night's end: As the musicians brought their sonic journey to a climax, Hussain broke into a beautifully throbbing crescendo that pushed the duo's sound toward transcendence. Now, Hussain is coming back to Portland. Over his career, the tabla player has collaborated with great fellow countrymen Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan, as well as Western pop and jazz stars like Van Morrison, George Harrison and Pharoah Sanders. In his forthcoming appearance, Hussain teams with his younger brother, fellow tabla player Fazal Qureshi, in an exploration of the traditional North Indian tabla repertoire. Later in the evening, a third percussionist, Sivamani, joins the brothers to play more contemporary rhythms. Ustad Sultan Khan, a master on the sarangi, a difficult-to-play melodic stringed instrument, will provide accompaniment throughout the evening. With the sound of Hussain's final beats still buzzing in our ears from his last appearance, Portlanders have another chance to hear one of the world's greatest percussionists. |
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