Ravi Shankar v. Zakir Hussain
UVR
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1413560.cms
MUMBAI: Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has accused tabla whiz Ustad
Zakir Hussain of unprofessional and immature conduct while performing
with him at Shanmukhananda Hall here on Saturday evening.
In front of a shocked audience of 3,000-odd music lovers, Zakir Hussain
had yanked the microphone from its stand in front of his tablas.
Panditji was playing "Maaj Khamaaj" at the time. Hussain was upset
with the quality of the tabla sound. He had gestured to the technician
that the volume of his microphone should be adjusted, but apparently
this was not done.
Zakir's act upset the audience since it could only hear Ravi Shankar
and his daughter Anoushka. They kept up a steady chant of ''We want
tabla'', following which Zakir put the microphone back in its place
and continued playing.
Ravi Shankar (86) said he was shocked by Zakir's behaviour. "I have
known him since he was a kid. I did not expect this from him. These
days some artistes play fusion music and suchlike and are used to loud
music. As an instrumentalist, I like the sound of the accompanists to
be about 20% lower than the volume of my sitar. This is standard
practice. If at all Zakir had any problem, he should have indicated it
to me. But his behaviour was totally unjustified," he told TOI on
Monday from New Delhi.
elmo
An office-bearer of the Shanmukhananda Sabha blamed Ravi Shankar's
wife, Sukanya, for the commotion. "She interfered with the sound
arrangements and kept instructing the sound in-charge so as to
highlight the performance of Panditji and Anoushka."
We have spent about Rs 2 crore on Shanmukhananda's acoustics and it is
the best in the country. If we had been allowed to handle the system
there would have been no problem," he added.
Sukanya, however, refuted the charge. "I don't know anything about
sound engineering. But as a music lover, I felt that something was
wrong with the music emerging from Zakir's mike
I was sitting next to tabla artiste Tapan Bose and asked him if Zakir's
sound was okay. He told me that it was not and that is when I told the
sound in-charge to raise Zakir's volume.
How can this be construed as interference? My husband and daughter
Anoushka were playing and I only wanted the best quality music.
In fact, their monitor was not up to the mark because of which they
could not hear their own music properly.
Panditji has hearing problems and he needed to be helped. I respect
Zakir and I cannot imagine doing anything to downplay his performance,"
she said.
Zakir was performing in Bhopal and was unavailable for comment.
However, his secretary, Nirmala Devi, said "We would not like to
comment on this issue."
tatya...@gmail.com
This sounds about what I heard from a few friends of mine who were
present at the show. From what I know Zakir Bhai he can NEVER be
unprofessional or immature. Infact refusing to make any comments from
his side shows his greatness.
Regards,
Adwait
www.adwaitjoshi.com
www.swarganga.org
bdixit
just to name a few, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi,
Lata Mangeshkar, and Kishen Maharaj) have formed a new organization,
Indian Music Academy," to preserve and promote ICM. The two honorary
patrons of this organization are Pandit Ravi Shankar and Lata
Mangeshkar, with Zakir Hussain as the academy ambassador. Will there be
a smooth sailing for such an organization? Only the time will tell.
.....................BND
Steven Bhullar
> MUMBAI: Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has accused tabla whiz Ustad
> Zakir Hussain of unprofessional and immature conduct while performing
> with him at Shanmukhananda Hall here on Saturday evening.
>
> Ravi Shankar (86) said he was shocked by Zakir's behaviour. "I have
> known him since he was a kid. I did not expect this from him. These
> days some artistes play fusion music and suchlike and are used to loud
> music. As an instrumentalist, I like the sound of the accompanists to
> be about 20% lower than the volume of my sitar. This is standard
> practice. If at all Zakir had any problem, he should have indicated it
> to me. But his behaviour was totally unjustified," he told TOI on
> Monday from New Delhi.
I think Panditji Ravi Shankar said exactly the right thing in that
Zakir Hussain's conduct was unprofessional and immature.
I too was shocked when I once saw a video of Ustad Sultan Khan and
Zakir Hussain perfmorning somehere, i think Pooney. Zakir Hussain
picked up the mic while Ustad Sultan Khan was playing and told
photopgraphers not to take more photos. Zakir carried on speaking for
few minutes that this was not fashion show but they were here to do
puja to Sarasvati or such similar. Even in mandir he said they do not
take photos so why here. What he said was in my mind absolute nonsense
and highly disrespectful to not only photographers and audience but
also Ustad Sultan Khan because of whom Zakir was invited to accompany
and not vice versa. And to interrupt Ustadji while he was playing and
to see look of humilation and embarassment on face of Ustadji was
unbearable. And Ustadji Sultan Khan did not utter one word in all this
but uncomfortably smiled after Zakir finished talking and then continue
to play. And yet Zakir Hussain had no shame or humility in his voice.
Photopgraphers were only there because of Zakir's popular appeal and
love audience has for him and Ustad Sultan Khan. I have seen bigger and
senior artists like Vilayat Khan ask audience politely not to take
photos and clap so loud, but in a nice and respectful way with
humillity and not in anger and condescending manner. But i never see
tabla player speak for who he is giving saath, always other way round.
Also I cannot understand why Zakir always in concert fiddle so much
with mics and ask for "more bass" and "more volume" when other great
tabliyas never say a word or if they do with hand or face gesture and
gracefully like Chopin Chaudhury, Anindo Chatterji, Anando Gopala,
Sabir Khan, Shafat Khan and others do not need to. Not even his father
the late great Ustad Alla Rakha did such showy things and never say
anything that would show disrespect for Pandit Ravi Shankar. Yet tabla
of Ustad Alla Rakha always sounded great. If he was alive today, I am
sure Ustad Alla Rakha would be very disappointed and angry with his son.
Daniel Fuchs
Steven Bhullar wrote:
>
> Panditji Ravi Shankar said exactly the right thing
For someone who lectures others on the proper use of the word
"Khansahib", you should more carefully choose your own expressions. This
is definitely somewhat awkward.
> Pooney.
Where?
> Chopin Chaudhury,
Who?
Chopin Chaudhury? Quite funny indeed....
Daniel
sarangiya
volume of his mike?Infact,in some recordings and concerts (very rare)
the sarangi could hardly be heard!
tatya...@gmail.com
Zakir bhai has a excellent sense of sound. Infact I have not seen any
other Indian Classical Music musician who knows so much about sound
that Zakir Bhai does. While playing many times, the sound engineers
fiddle with the sound after the sound testing has been done. Even
during a concert if the sound level or any frequency is changed Zakir
bhai catches it and tells the sound engineer. And this has heppend more
than once in front of me. He is completely justified in doing that
because if he is playing he has ALL right to be satisfied or
unsatisfied with the sound. You may have seen many big artists but
Zakir is ZAKIR !!!
Adwait
www.adwaitjoshi.com
www.swarganga.org
Warren
I can forgive artists' interference with the sound (though a lot of it
would
be solved if people would just use monitors rather than letting the
musicians try and figure out the room acoustics from behind the mics).
That damned "Pink Panther" theme, however, I find harder to
excuse. It was half as funny the second time I heard it, and it's been
exponential reduction ever since...for about thirty years.
WS
Town Crier
solo with whoever else accompanying. He routinely barges into Sultan
Khan saheb's china shop whenever they appear together. To add insult
to injury he publicly announces, in the middle of playing, that he is
accompanying SK, and not vice-versa. So why should RS be spared?
Sukanyaji tried to stop ZH, and learned how the audience ranks the two!
DG, sharing the wilderness with you, WS
Steven Bhullar
> For someone who lectures others on the proper use of the word
> "Khansahib", you should more carefully choose your own expressions. This
> is definitely somewhat awkward.
>
>> Pooney.
>
> Where?
>
> > Chopin Chaudhury,
>
> Who?
>
> Chopin Chaudhury? Quite funny indeed....
I use speech to text software when I compose the message, so the words
are spell the way they sound. For example if I say your last name it
shows spelled like you know what (rhyme with duck) no matter how I
say. So often i forget to correct spelling. And I agree with your
assertion to say "Panditji Ravi Shankar" is not the proper way. Again
what I say gets convert to text. I will be more careful that i do not
make same errors I tell others about. And "Pooney" is of course city of
Poona, as it is how it is pronounce in Hindi.
Daniel Fuchs
>
> I use speech to text software when I compose the message,
I see...
> so the words
> are spell the way they sound. For example if I say your last name it
> shows spelled like you know what (rhyme with duck) no matter how I
> say.
If you were to pronounce it correctly, it wouldn't... It rhymes with
"hooks". And it means fox.
> And "Pooney" is of course city of
> Poona, as it is how it is pronounce in Hindi.
I know that well... I wa just complaining about the spelling. Never
mind.
Daniel
quizfan
UVR wrote:
> >From the Times Of India:
> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1413560.cms
>
> MUMBAI: Sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar has accused tabla whiz Ustad
> Zakir Hussain of unprofessional and immature conduct while performing
> with him at Shanmukhananda Hall here on Saturday evening.
>
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1016016&CatID=39
Cheers
Arun
Unknown
Zakir Bhai certainly does have a good sense, he should, he's been in
the west long enough and been around enough professionals in the
recording industry since he was a kid here... This doesen't explain
or excuse this kind of behaviour does it? I wonder what the deal is,
but we'll probably never know.
However, I was very bewildered when he was accompanying Pt. Birju
Maharaj in St Paul, MN for the "Concert of the Legends" June 25,
2005 - Zakir Bhai kept insisting that the sound engineer raise the
HOUSE volume of his Tabla numerous times so that it overwhelmed the
rest of the accompanying artists in Maharaji's troupe
(Utpal Ghosal - Tabla, Debashis Sarkar -Vocalist, Chandrachr
Bhattacyarjee - Sitar)
None of these artistes are amateurs, ok?
And when you talk about respecting the other artistes, you must also
talk about respecting the audience! So, by the end of the night the
mix was ridiculously in favor of Zakir, who was trading off with
both Utpal Ghosal and Maharaji if I recall, if not the rest of the
troupe - it would have been pleasant if the mix were balanced but it
was not... It was just odd sounding.
I still enjoyed the show more for Maharaji than anything else really
at that point. (Zakir is ZAKIR but he is a little boy when he is
sitting at the feet of the Pandit Birju Maharaj IMO)
I felt bad for Maharaji's accompanists, I also felt bad for the
sound crew because in doing sound THE ARTIST SHOULD NEVER DICTATE
THE SOUND IN THE HOUSE, ***end of story***
ONSTAGE is another story, that's fine, that's their resposibility
and territory! But if I pay 45-50 dollars for a ticket, I expect a
nice sounding mix, and not to have it f***** with by anyone
performing onstage, no matter who they are, no matter how much I
respect them as an artist, human being or whatever else.
Speaking of f****** mixes, I was in town for the recent Masters of
Percussion in the Twin Cities, while the Maestros did not display
any of this type of behaviour during the show the sound in the
supposedly prestigious Orchestral Hall was not up to snuff IMO.
There was audible distortion when Zakir Bhai was slapping the Bayan
very hard... The mix sounded very THIN and not as well balanced.
Ah well. Better luck next time. [/rant]
I however want to express my gratitude toward IMSOM and the various
other organisations involved (excepting Orchestra Hall)for bringing
them to this state to perform.
--
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sarangiya
Ravi Shankar.They are not musicians but buisnessmen.They want that only
their goods sell in the market.
Sarangi Players are the complete opposite of these artists.They rarely
tell the soundman to up their instrument's volume.In fact in some
recordings and concerts the sarangi accompaniment can hardly be
perceived.
Town Crier
sarangiya wrote:
> I think there are better Tabla and Sitar Players than Zakir Hussain and
> Ravi Shankar.
Well, yes, Ravi Shankar is a good businessperson, and perhaps Sukanya
is an even better one, but in his prime Pt. Ravi Shankar was in a class
by himself as a Hindustani Classical instrumentalist. Across
instruments. Absolutely no one of that time came even close. (IM
clearly-not-H O).
DG
Archisman
sarangiya wrote:
> I think there are better Tabla and Sitar Players than Zakir Hussain and
> Ravi Shankar.They are not musicians but buisnessmen.They want that only
> their goods sell in the market.
I'm unable to comment on Ustad Zakir Hussain but Panditji, in his
hey-days was surely one of the best and when in mood (during his
hey-days), unrivalled in his imaginative vistaar of a raaga. All
all-time great.
Regards-Archisman
kantid...@aol.com
> I'm unable to comment on Ustad Zakir Hussain but Panditji, in his
> hey-days was surely one of the best and when in mood (during his
> hey-days), unrivalled in his imaginative vistaar of a raaga. All
> all-time great.
>
> Regards-Archisman
Hi Archisman,
Read your posting.
Entirely agree with you. I have heard him several times in UK and
Europe in his 'hey days' when he use to perform without sound
amplification. Pure unadulterated sound of magnificent sitar and his
'imaginative vistaar of ragas' are still fresh in my memory and I often
talk about those concerts with friends who also were present to witness
those magical moments. I still attend his concerts when possible but do
not compare them with those divine era when he was at his best. But
nothing lasts for ever.
Unfortunately I haven't got his best recordings. If you have any
favourites, please let me know.
I have the following CDs (several of these are unfortunately not
recommended and I very rarely play them)
2044 2 Ravi in Kremlin live 1988
260947 with Philip Glass
A91003 Maestro's Choice
A91022 Basant
A91025 Megh
AAMS116
AAMS108
AAMS123 Doyen of Hindustani Music
ANGEL55948 Chants of India
ANGEL67024 rec London 64
BGO115 rec 61 US
BGO117 live Woodstock 69
C558674
CDM769121 Shankar Concerto For Sitar & Orchestra
ASD4314 Ragmala Garland of Ragas A Concerto for sitar & orchestra
CMC182502
DS37920 with Ali Akbar Khan
ED1031 rec Venice 91
EMICDC 7490702 with Yehudi Menuhin Violin
IMUT1013A Pan Music 056 live Hyderabad 89
IMUT1013B Pan Music 057 live Pune 90
MRCD1013 2cd set Concert for Peace live RAH 93
CDNF009
CDNF119 Homage to Mahatma GANDHIJI
CDNF040 Jazzmine with Vijay Raghav Rao
PSLP5199
PSLP5267 Ravi Shankar 70
PSLP5304 with Ali Akbar Raga Mood
PSLP5369 Triveni
PSLP5431 Monument of Strings
PSLP5444 live Kolkata 91
PSLP5555 Farewell to my Friend Satyajit Ray
PSLP5613 Ghanashyam
PSLP5640 with Ali Akbar
PSLP5641 with Ali Akbar Khan Togetherness
PSLP5676 live 92 Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Delhi
PSLP5836 Unique Dawn
RSM101 live Monterel 67
SNCD2286 rec London 86
SP83688 Spirit of India
SNCD70390 2cd set live Barbican
SNCD70991 live Stuttgart 88
Warm regards,
Kanti Dattani
Archisman
kantid...@aol.com wrote:
>
> Unfortunately I haven't got his best recordings. If you have any
> favourites, please let me know.
>
>
Dear Kanti,
Sorry for the delay in response. I have not heard all his recordings
and hence, not be able to comment. However, Paandit-ji himself was fond
of his 78 prm & EP recordings where he derived great joy in portraying
the essential facets of a raaga in 3.5 or 6.5 minutes. By that token,
all his recording that are accompanied by Chaturlal or Kanai Dutta, are
his best Ones. I have not heard all of them but the few that I have
heard (like megh, nand, simhendra madhyam, jansanmohini, tilak shyam,
kirwani, nat bhairav, rasiya, manj khamaj etc.) are beautiful. So are
some of his longer recordings (LP releases) like ramkeli, shuddh
kalyan, samant sarang, hamsadhwani, puriya dhanashree, ahir bhairav,
parameshwari, gangeshwari, rangeshwari, jogeshwari etc.
And of course, the great jugalbandi-s with his brother in law - shree,
sindhi bhairavi, durga, khamaj etc. The first two are absolute
maasterpieces.
The best jugalbandi of theirs that I have ever heard was a 3 and 1/2
minute zilla kafi that we had on a a78 rpm disc at home. Tabla by Pt.
Kishan Maharaj (ah! what a player!). The flip side of the record had an
equally beautiful 'des' (jugalbandi, again with tabla by Prof
Jnanprakash Ghosh). Als, the disc has broken now and there are no
cassete or CD versions of those two gems (to the best of my knowledge).
In my humble opinion, India may have had (and may have in future as
well) better instrumentalists but it will be difficult to surpass
Pandit Ravi Shankar's fertile imagination while elaborating a raaga.
Regards-Archisman.