Homage to Abbaji by Ustad Zakir Hussain

A host of national and international artists will come together to pay homage to Ustad Allarakha, on his first Barsi (death anniversary) on February 3. This was informed by Ustad Zakir Hussain, son of Ustad Allarakha, at a press conference on January 23. The musical tribute will take place at two separate venues in Mumbai - NCPA and Kala Ghoda.

The tribute titled ‘A Homage to Abbaji - Ustad Allarakha’ brings together the original ‘Shakti’ members - John McLaughlin, L. Shankar, Vikku Vinayakram and Zakir Hussain. It also presents for the first time in India, Latino percussion maestro Giovanni Hidalgo, Nigerian talking drummer Sikiru Adepoju, and saxophonist George Brooks. Also performing will be Indian fusion artists and percussionists Sivamani, Ranjit Barot, Fazal and Taufiq Qureshi, and Selva Ganesh. Kishori Amonkar, Shivkumar Sharma and sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan will alo be paying their tributes. A documentary on Abbaji’s life will also be screened. The event is the concept of Zakir Hussain Promotions.

Salma Khatib

Abida Parveen’s album launched

Renowned Sufi singer from Pakistan, Abida Parveen, was in India recently to launch her new album Raqs-E-Bismil, released by Music Today. It has music by filmmaker Muzaffar Ali of Umrao Jaan fame.

Abida started learning music from an early age from her father Master Ghulam Haider Khan, and later from Ustad Salamat Khan Saheb of the Patiala Gharana. She was initiated into singing in Sufi tradition and has stuck to it ever since. She sings compositions of Chisti Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Amir Khusro, Hazrat Baba Bule Shah, Baba Farid, Hazrat Sultan Bahu and Hazrat Shah Hussain.

The singer has given performances all over the world, with all her compositions being known. Some of her popular songs are Dama dam mast kalandar, Mahi yaar di ghadoli bhar de, Tere ishq ne nachaya tha thaiyya and Chhap tilak sab chhini re.

Raqs-E-Bismil has ghazals devoted to the Creator inspired by the couplets of Rumi. Hazrat Shah Niaz, Hazrat Zaheen Shah Taaji and Jigar Moradabadi are the others whose ghazals have been composed, keeping the inherent spiritual melody and rhythm intact.