Legends of Percussion

[Anirban Halder]

Percussions are widely popular in Indian classical music arena and in all other forms of music as well. Last week I attended a percussion concert by Ustad Zakir Hussain and Ustad Taufiq Qureshi. Both are son of legendary Tabla player Ustad Alla Rakha. While Ustad Zakir Hussain mostly plays Tabla and Ustad Taufiq plays various drums including African Djembe.

Here are few old video clips that should give introduction of how/what they play.
Ustad Zakir Hussain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbbSEmk5Dqo
Ustad Taufiq Qureshi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynNZgpjWOxw

I didn't go there for photography but as a creature of habit shot few. Fuji X-T10 and XF 55-200, 50% crop.

Ustad Zakir Hussain:

[Anirban Halder]

Ustad Taufiq Qureshi on Djembe and Ustad Sabir Khan on Sarangi.
Fuji X-T10 and XF 55-200, 50% crop.

[Frank Fremerey]

I just came upstairs from my celler playing a round. There is nothing like playing the drums for me. I immediately enters another world. Drums can sing. It is not only about RIDDIM!

You show that in your pics.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

My girl friends plays djembes in various sizes so I am familiar with the commitment.

Excellent portrayals of the musicians coupled with first-rate b/w conversions make these pictures stand out from the crowd.

[Fons Baerken]

They are excellent and i enjoy this music, have some myself.

[Anirban Halder]

I just came upstairs from my celler playing a round. There is nothing like playing the drums for me. I immediately enters another world. Drums can sing. It is not only about RITHIM!

You show that in your pics.

Thanks and very true Frank. Although I don't play myself, I enjoy them very much. Ustad Zakir Hussain tours extensively all over the world and you can experience him live if his music interests you. He was also part of the band "Shakti" with John McLaughlin & few others. They still play together once in a while as "Remember Shakti". On similar note, I must mention, there are few other prominent percussion legends in India -  Vikku Vinayakram, Trilok Gurtu and Anandan Sivamani and listening them live is unforgettable experience.

My girl friends plays djembes in various sizes so I am familiar with the commitment.

Excellent portrayals of the musicians coupled with first-rate b/w conversions make these pictures stand out from the crowd.

Djembes are more popular than I thought.  Although I didn't go there for photography interest, but I'm really glad you like these photos. Thanks so much!

They are excellent and i enjoy this music, have some myself.

Thanks a lot, Fons. Do you play percussions as well?

[Jakov Minić]

The photos are so good that I am sorry I don't hear the musicians

[John Geerts]

Yes, beautiful and expressing the emotions of the musicplayers perfectly.

[Frank Fremerey]

The photos are so good that I am sorry I don't hear the musicians

do you have some photos with sound???

[Gary]

Beautiful, I particularly like the hand movement in the second shot of the second upload and the guy is with string instrument. Well done.   

[Frank Fremerey]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IQNPlnc9c0


as we are here. Amazing drums. Legend of percussion.....

[Anirban Halder]

The photos are so good that I am sorry I don't hear the musicians

Thanks a lot, Jakov. Whenever they are playing in Netherlands, I will keep you posted.

Yes, beautiful and expressing the emotions of the musicplayers perfectly.

Thank you John.

Beautiful, I particularly like the hand movement in the second shot of the second upload and the guy is with string instrument. Well done.   

Thanks a lot, Gary. Concert photography is not my forte. I'm glad you like those shots.

[Frank Fremerey]

I did have a look at the great videos!!! Thank you for that.

[afx]

Great series!
I especially love the second shot of the second series. This is something I rarely achieve!

cheers
afx

[Akira]

Great series, Anirban!

I didn't know which is Ustad Taufiq's main instrument.  The google search revealed that he learned ghatam under Pandit Vikku Vinayakram.  Ghatam technique seems to resemble that of Djembe.