As with all the parents with little children, it becomes very difficult to sit down with a good book, especially in summer. So I have found a perfect way to relax – put on some good music in your car or create a playlist and listen to it while you are walking, cycling, or on the playground with the little one.
I had the good fortune to watch an outstanding musical performance by tabla maestro, Zakir Hussain, a few years ago. He was performing in the Millennium Park Music Without Borders series. It was a mesmerizing and a magical evening and since then I have been his greatest fan.
Tabla is an Indian percussion instrument. The term “table” is derived from an Arabic word, tabl, which simply means “drum.” It is used in Indian classical music and in popular and devotional music. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and notes. Playing technique involves extensive use of the tip of the fingers and palms in various configurations to create a wide variety of different sounds. Zakir Hussain was a child prodigy and started playing the tabla when he was very young. He was touring by the age of twelve and came to America where he started his international career including more than 150 concerts a year. He has won many awards and accolades. He was the youngest percussionist to be awarded titles of Padma Shri in 1988, and Padma Bhushan in 2002 (titles given to civilians of merit by the Indian government). His album, The Best of Tabla is a treat for all music lovers. He is undoubtedly one of the best percussion players of our generation. He has the ability to charm and entertain the listeners even when his music remains almost classical.
So listen to his music and hope you can catch him at his next concert!
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