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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline FEBRUARY 16, 2024 | The Indian Eye 26

Tabla Maestro Zakir Hussain and ‘Breathless’

musician Shankar Mahadevan bag Grammy awards

Rakesh Chaurasia also wins his maiden Grammy

OUR BUREAU
Los Angeles, CA
ndian musicians Shankar Ma-
hadevan and Zakir Hussain’s
Ifusion band ‘Shakti’ bagged the
Grammy’s award for ‘Best Global
Music Album’, at the much-anticipat-
ed event held at Crypto.com Arena
in Los Angeles, on February 5. The
award was for their latest album ‘This
Moment’.

Facing stiff competition at the
Grammys from artists like Su-
sana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy,
and Davido, Shakti emerged

victorious, securing the Gram-
my for Best Global Music Al-
bum. This triumph underscores
their enduring influence and

global acclaim for their distinc-
tive musical fusion.

In an acceptance speech, Ma- Singer and Composer Shankar Mahadevan delivers the acceptance speech at the Grammys 2024 on ‘Shakti’ band winning the Best Global
hadevan said, “Thank you boys.
Thank you God, family, friends, and Music Album award for ‘This Moment’, in Los Angeles on Sunday (ANI)
India. India, we are proud of you…
Last but not the least, I would like to composer, and the nephew of leg- Instrumental Album, Best Instru-
dedicate this award to my wife whom endary maestro Hari Prasad Chaur- mental Composition, and Best Glob-
every note of my music is dedicated asia bagged two Grammy Awards in al Music Performance ‘As we Speak’
to.” The musician’s speech evoked a a glittering ceremony held on Febru- won in the Best Contemporary In-
loud cheer from the crowd. ary 5. “Winning two Grammy Awards strumental and Best Global Music
The album ‘This Moment’, re- has been a moment of pride for me Performance categories.
leased on June 30 last year, features and my country. I would like to ex- Meanwhile, in the album ‘As We
eight songs created by John Mc- press my gratitude to Zakir bhai who Speak,’ the four musicians have over
Laughlin (guitar synth), Zakir Hus- gave me a chance to collaborate with 12 songs negotiated Indian and West-
sain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan Edgar Meyer and Bela Fleck to work ern classical music, jazz, and blue-
(vocalist), V Selvaganesh (percus- on ‘As We Speak’,” said Chaurasia at grass genres of music. The album,
sionist), and Ganesh Rajagopalan the 66th Grammy Awards 2024 cere- according to Bela Fleck, weaves a
(violinist). They were nominated for mony in Los Angeles. “sonic tapestry of banjo, tabla, dou-
the Grammys with other artists like “It was a unique and difficult ble bass, and bansuri.”
Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, experience to work on a different Chaurasia, who studied under
and Davido. genre especially coming from a clas- his iconic uncle, Pandit Hariprasad
Meanwhile, Zakir Hussain also sical scenario. I am extremely happy Chaurasia, follows the illustrious lin-
secured the ‘Best Global Music Per- that I am bringing a Grammy to my eage of the Maihar gharana. Chaur-
formance’ Grammy for his contribu- country. Hope I continue making Flautist Rakesh Chaurasia asia and Zakir Hussain’s double CD
tion to ‘Pashto’ alongside Bela Fleck India proud with my work,” said the ‘ZaRa’ comprising “two classical ra-
and Edgar Meyer, featuring Rakesh 53-year-old musician who plays the end Bela Fleck, double bassist Edgar gas and Kashi dhun” was released on
Chaurasia - a virtuoso flute player. bansuri (bamboo flute). Meyer, and Padma Vibushan tabla the latter’s label Moment Records
While Hussain won 3 Grammys in one Chaurasia has featured in the player Zakir Hussain. in September 2022. Hussain has de-
night, Chaurasia bagged 2 awards. album ‘As We Speak’ – a collabora- Nominated for the Grammys in scribed the flautist as “India’s bril-
Also, Rakesh Chaurasia flautist, tive effort with American banjo leg- three categories -Best Contemporary liant and popular bansuri virtuoso.”

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