MUMBAI: Indian tabla legend, late Ustad Allah Rakha’s contribution in putting tabla on the world map is remarkable. His son Fazal Qureshi, who is also a famous tabla player, cherishes his father’s irreplaceable contribution through a yearly held music concert, The Journey Continue. Celebrated on his father’s birth anniversary that is entering its centenary this year, Fazalji talks exclusively about the upcoming show and his father Alla Rakha.
Nostalgic Fazalji said, “With The Journey Continues, I want to recreate my father, Ustad Allah Rakha’s life story on the stage. I will be joined by Danish Hussain, who is a talented stage actor and storyteller. While Danish will narrate my father’s journey from Lahore to Mumbai and his musical ventures, I will recreate some of his famous creations.”
On being asked about any key performance audience can look forward to at the musical evening, the tabla maestro revealed, “I will be recreating two of the famous songs of my father at the event. One of them was his collaboration with the legendary Pandit Ravi Shankarji and other one was with American-born violinist, Yehudi Menuhin. Besides, famous tunes by American jazz drummer, Buddy Rich and others are also on my list.”
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Fazalji, who finds inspiration in his father, Alla Rakha considers himself privileged to have learnt tabla from him. Talking about his father, who made tabla globally famous as a solo instrument, he says, “My father was open to different collaborations. Apart from his collaborations with global artists, he was the first to collaborate with famous South Indian musicians, late Palghar Raghu and late Palghat Mani Iyer.”
When asked about his special memory with his legendary father, Fazalji said, “My first on-stage performance with my father and brother Zakir Hussain is my favourite memory. Both of them were encouraging. I understood the difference between performing at home and that on the stage. Besides, my last performance with my father, a month before he passed away is also memorable.”
Fazalji also admires and looks-upon to his brother, Zakir Hussain, who is also a world famous tabla legend. When asked about him and any future collaboration we can anticipate, Fazalji told, “He is busy with his stuff. We haven’t performed for years together except for performing at my father’s barsi. But, maybe in future, we will for sure!”
Lastly, on being asked about the future of tabla in India and any message he wants to give to the aspiring tabla players, Fazalji signed off saying, “I think tabla is growing since my father introduced it as a solo instrument to the world. The future for tabla in India is secure. I just want to tell the aspiring tabla players that they should be honest with their instrument and practice as practice makes you perfect. Besides, if you are good enough, you can flourish.”
Meanwhile, ‘The Journey Continues’, to be held on 29 April 2018 will commence with a Tabla Praman, where students from Ustad Allah Rakha Institute Of Music, Dadar will recite tabla work of the great Indian Picasso of drumming, who was popularly called Abbaji.
Artists to look out for:
• Danish Husain – Actor / Storyteller
• Zubin Balaporia – Keyboard
• Dilshad Khan – Sarangi
• Sridar Parthasarathy- Mridangam
• Sheldon D’Silva – Bass
• Abhisek Mallick – Sitar
• Prasant Samadhar – Vocal
• Kushmita- Violin
• Andrew Kanga – Drums
• Faizan Hussain – Percussion
Concert Details
Date: Sunday, 29 April 2018
Venue: St. Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra West
Timing: 7 PM
Passes – Free of Cost. Available at Andrew’s Box office from 25th April
