MUMBAI: From African beats to Hindustani music will be played to celebrate 94th birth anniversary of tabla wizard Ustad Alla Rakha on 30 April. To pay tribute to the legendary tabla player his son Fazal Qureshi is organizing a concert called ‘Celebrating Rhythm’.
Speaking with Radioandmusic.com, Qureshi said, “I am looking forward for the concert. This concert will be a tribute to my father in my way. We will try play his style and then do some of our music. This will be a joyous occasion for me as its my father’s birth anniversary and my album launch called Leylines.”
The album explores the concept of connecting different worlds. Three cultures will be together in the album namely western, middle-eastern and the Indian. Anders Hagberg (Saxophone, Western Flute) is representing western jazz format of music. Ahmad Al Khatib (Oud, Middle-eastern string instrument), is representing Arabic music. Finally, Qureshi (Tabla), is representing Indian music. Besides Tabla, there are also other Indian instruments used like, Sarangi, Mirdangum, Dholak, Guitar and bass.
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Ustad Alla Rakha, fondly known as Abbaji, studied voice and Raag Vidya under Ashiq Ali Khan of the Patiala gharana. He believed in sharing his knowledge which in turn helped him learn and for this he also interacted with international musicians. He played music with the renowned Carnatic musicians as well as Hindustani music veterans. He was the chief accompanist of Ravi Shankar.
The main idea behind the concert is to celebrate the teachings of the music legend which they have passed on to their students and take it forward.
Therefore, the theme of the concert is ‘ The journey continues’.”The students trained at the academy will perform along with me on the musical concert. It is difficult now-a-days to get kids to continue their training alongside the studies. Earlier, students used to give-up studies to dedicate time to music, now things have changed and I am trying my best to encourage them. The students who are performing with me will be over with their exams on the same day of the musical night,”Qureshi said.
Ustad Alla Rakha’s tabla skills have been acquired by his three sons- Zakir Hussain, Fazal Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi. Qureshi is organising a tribute concert in India whereas his sister is organising one in America where Hussain will be playing his tabla. Qureshi said, “I and my elder brother (Zakir) are planning of doing a concert together next year in US to pay tribute for our father.”
