In a dazzling display of Indian percussion, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain joined by 11 virtuosos from North and South India showcased the country's diverse drumming traditions at Sanders Theater recently. The ensemble included the sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan, ghatam wizard T.H. Vinayakram, the young violin masters Ganesh and Kumaresh, Hussain's brother Fazal Qureshi on tabla , Vijay Chauhan on dholak , Taufiq Qureshi, Zakir's youngest brother, on various percussion instruments, and Manipuri Jagoi Marup, the dancing drummers of Manipur. The Concert was organized by WorldMusic.

Zakir Hussain is an extraordinary innovator and embellisher of this form and the artists who accompanied him, each of them enriched with their own brilliance provided the heartbeat to this extraordinary concert. The beauty of this group is, they made it seem so natural and so easy. Whether it was Ustad Sultan Khan striking a harmonic note of spirituality on his Sarangi or Vikku Vinayakram engaging in impossible tandem rhythms on his ghatam , it was irresistible, The young duo’s Ganesh and Kumaresh played dazzlingly virtuosic pieces on the violin. Hussain's brothers, Fazal Qureshi and Taufiq Qureshi at the various percussion instruments were astonishing and entrancing. Vijay Chauhan vigorous drumming on the dholak brought a lot of feeling of celebration and joy to the ensemble.

Zakir Hussain led the group to these dizzying heights with his own prowess on the tabla. The dancers from Manipur dressed in traditional garb of white and red brought the stage alive with their own drumming and acrobatics that had many of the people present gasping with awe. It was a successful music melting pot combining the best of the North and the South, the East and the West absorbing the rich traditions of the culture of each region.

The performance was a study in dynamics: the artists through their instruments established an atmosphere of magic and the waves of music engaged the audience at the physical and emotional level. When the performance was over, it was a standing ovation.

World Music needs to be commended for bringing out such a fine concert. It was a treat for music fans of all ages.

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