{"id":34057,"date":"2023-08-22T10:06:21","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T14:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=34057"},"modified":"2023-08-22T10:06:22","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T14:06:22","slug":"on-stage-extra-east-meets-west-with-shakti-at-the-keswick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/?p=34057","title":{"rendered":"On Stage Extra: East meets West with Shakti, at The Keswick"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff<\/strong>, Entertainment Editor, The Times<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

Shakti<\/p><\/div>\n

On August 22, the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com<\/a>) will present a special concert \u2013 a concert featuring a rarely touring international supergroup \u2013 a concert where East meets West and North meets South.<\/p>\n

That band is Shakti. It is led by English guitarist\u00a0John McLaughlin and Indian\u00a0percussionist Zakir Hussain.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin is a legendary guitarist in rock, jazz and fusion genres. He is one of the most respected guitarists by his peers as well as music fans around the world.<\/p>\n

Back in May, McLaughlin was one of the stellar musicians performing two tribute concerts in London for the recently deceased guitar god Jeff Beck.<\/p>\n

The lineup included organizer Eric Clapton along with Gary Clark Jr. Doyle Bramhall II, Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, as well as Billy Gibbons, Robert Randolph, Imelda May, Olivia Safe, Rod Stewart and Joss Stone.<\/p>\n

Post-show reports had the guitar greats talking about paying tribute to Beck and having the opportunity to perform onstage with McLaughlin.<\/p>\n

In 2010,\u00a0Jeff Beck\u00a0said, \u201cJohn McLaughlin has given us so many different facets of the guitar. And introduced thousands of us to world music, by blending Indian music with jazz and classical. I\u2019d say he was the best guitarist alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hussain, a master percussionist in North Indian Hindustani classical music, is recognized as the world\u2019s premier tabla player.<\/p>\n

Hussain is today appreciated both in the field of percussion and in the music world at large as an international phenomenon. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country, India, but gained him worldwide fame.<\/p>\n

Hussain is the eldest son of Alla Rakha, a world-famous tabla player known for his work with sitar legend Ravi Shankar.<\/p>\n

His playing is marked by uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity, founded in formidable knowledge and study. The favorite accompanist for many of India\u2019s greatest classical musicians and dancers, he has not let his genius rest there.<\/p>\n

Widely considered chief architect of the contemporary world music movement, Hussain\u2019s contribution to world music has been unique, with many historic collaborations, including Shakti, which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar, Remember Shakti, the Diga Rhythm Band, Making Music, Planet Drum with Mickey Hart, Tabla Beat Science, Sangam with Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland.<\/p>\n

He is also known for his recordings and performances with artists as diverse as George Harrison, YoYo Ma, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham, Mark Morris, Rennie Harris, and the Kodo drummers.<\/p>\n

The original Shakti in 1974 featured violin\u00a0player\u00a0L. Shankar, percussionist\u00a0T. H. \u201cVikku\u201d Vinayakram\u00a0on\u00a0Ghatam. The band played acoustic\u00a0fusion\u00a0music which combined\u00a0Indian\u00a0music with elements of\u00a0jazz. The band’s name means, in English, \u201ccreative intelligence, beauty, and power.\u201d<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Hinduism,\u00a0Shakti\u00a0is the fundamental\u00a0cosmic energy\u00a0and a central deity within\u00a0Shaktism, a significant theological tradition of Hinduism. Representing dynamic forces that permeate the universe, Shakti embodies feminine energy and is often depicted as the consort of\u00a0Shiva. In this tradition,\u00a0Devi, the Goddess, is regarded as the Supreme\u00a0Brahman\u00a0herself, with all other divine forms seen as her manifestations. The worship of Shakti entails a diverse array of goddesses, including\u00a0Durga,\u00a0Kali,\u00a0Parvati, and\u00a0Tripura Sundari, each representing unique facets of her power.<\/p>\n

The group came together after the dissolution of the first incarnation of the\u00a0Mahavishnu Orchestra and toured fairly extensively during the period 1975-1977. It made only sporadic appearances (with personnel changes) thereafter.<\/p>\n

After 1977 the albums which\u00a0L. Shankar\u00a0recorded with Hussain and\u00a0Vinayakram\u00a0stayed close to the music made popular by Shakti.<\/p>\n

In 1997, McLaughlin and Hussain put together another band with the same concept, called\u00a0Remember Shakti, including\u00a0V. Selvaganesh\u00a0(son of\u00a0\u201cVikku\u201d), mandolin player\u00a0U. Shrinivas\u00a0and eventually\u00a0Shankar Mahadevan.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I sit on stage with Zakir, I\u2019m thrilled,\u201d said McLaughlin, during recent phone interview from his home in Monaco. \u201cThat thing is still there. It\u2019s a magical thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tour celebrates Shakti\u2019s historic\u00a050th Anniversary. Together, McLaughlin and Hussain have shattered the boundaries\u00a0between eastern and western music to forge the template of what is now called \u201cWorld Music.\u201d They are highly influential and important figures in the world of music, specifically in the genre of fusion music, which combines elements from so many different musical traditions.<\/p>\n

Their new album celebrating the landmark anniversary, \u201cThis Moment,\u201d was released on June 23, 2023, and their final tour, the first in 45 years, launched on August 17 in Boston.\u00a0 The tour cements Shakti\u2019s pan-cultural ethos by introducing jazz and American elements via the supporting spots by a rotating cast of players. At tonight\u2019s show, B\u00e8la Fleck will open the performances with a solo set and will then join forces with Shakti later each evening.<\/p>\n

The 2023 Shakti lineup also features Indian superstar vocalist and composer Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and percussion maestro Selvaganesh Vinayakram. It is a powerfully dynamic collective, defined by deft interplay, dazzling unison passages, extraordinarily dexterous improvisations, and the ability to draw from a vast well of global traditions and, miraculously, put them in conversation with one another.<\/p>\n

The compositions making up \u201cThis Moment\u201d each pass through a series of connected movements, highlighting different vocal and instrumental sub-groups within Shakti while transitioning between taut thematic statements, riveting solos from McLaughlin and Rajagopalan, invigorating rhythmic shifts, and soaring vocal passages by Mahadevan.<\/p>\n

McLaughlin\u2019s contributions are remarkable in their ability to reconcile the great ragas of North and South India with a chromaticism born of jazz and the blues, and the speed and precision of his articulation remains exhilarating. The engine room of Hussain and Vinayakram (son of original Shakti ghatam player T.H. \u201cVikku\u201d Vinayakram) gives space to allow passages to breathe and resound, while equally capable of fomenting a roiling, galloping underpinning that push the soloists to increasingly ecstatic heights.<\/p>\n

In addition to fusing American and Indian music, Shakti also represented a fusion of the\u00a0Hindustani<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Carnatic music<\/a>\u00a0traditions, since Hussain, who has received numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, two of India’s highest civilian honors, is from the north region of India while the other Indian members were from the South.<\/p>\n

Shakti\u2019s original lineup disbanded in 1978, and for two decades each of the musicians pursued their own highly successful careers. In the late \u201890s, the band reformed with Shankar Mahadevan on vocals, U.Srinivas on mandolin and Selvaganesh Vinayakram replacing his father Vikku alongside McLaughlin and Hussain \u2013 bringing another creative dimension to an ensemble that was already considered one of the best groups in the emerging world music genre.<\/p>\n

After the tragic loss in 2014 of Mandolin U. Shrinivas, Shakti once again ceased to perform. However, in early 2020 the group once again reconstituted itself, convening with violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan for two sold out concerts \u2013 the first one in Kolkata, India on January 14, 2020, and the second one in Singapore on January 16, 2020.<\/p>\n

These events were a catalyst in the renaissance of Shakti, with this new formation continuing to perform together for special events and bring the magic of Shakti once again to the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing Carnatic musicians was my idea,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cI\u2019ve always loved drummers and I wanted to have a South Indian drummer.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of Shakti\u2019s high points was the release of the \u201cNatural Elements\u201d album in the late 1970s.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur first studio music was \u2018Natural Elements\u2019 in 1978,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cThis is really a very special record. I\u2019m really happy with it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn \u2018This Moment,\u2019 basically everything was done in Seattle and South India. We started with some basic premises and recorded them. Then, we came back and changed what we\u2019d done.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to re-do my part on almost everything \u2013 sometimes three or four times. It was a real labor of love. This album is a crystallization of five decades of love and dedication. Our musical evolution recorded here is the history of Shakti.\u201d<\/p>\n

McLaughlin had a particularly tough year in 2014 that included the death of his frequent guitar partner, the flamenco great Paco de Lucia and the passing of Shakti\u2019s mandolinist U. Srinivas in September.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the notably dexterous guitarist was stricken with painful arthritis in his right hand and was unable to play. He sought medical treatment, but it wasn\u2019t working. In 2019, McLaughlin hooked up with\u00a0Dr. Joe Dispenza, an American chiropractor, teacher, and best-selling author who was said to have cured himself of a broken back through meditation.<\/p>\n

The guitarist tuned into Dispenza\u2019s YouTube videos and found \u201ca wonderful technique that incorporates meditation\u201d in lieu of medication. \u00a0Within six to eight months, the pain of McLaughlin\u2019s arthritis was gone.<\/p>\n

Born in England in 1942, McLaughlin\u2019s love affair with music goes back a long time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got my first guitar when I was 11,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cI also started violin when I was really young. I tried violin, but after nine months, I asked my mother if I could learn piano.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was 11, my older brother brought a guitar into the home. That was in 1962 \u2013 right when then the blues boom swept the U.K. The guitar got handed down to me.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was entranced by the guitar. I stopped playing piano that day. I\u2019ve been playing guitar for 70 years and I\u2019m still earning every day.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was drawn to the blues. Big Bill Broonzy was the first I listened to. Next was Muddy Waters. They\u2019re my old heroes. Then, I got into flamenco via Paco de Lucia and then the jazz of Django Reinhardt.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt 16, I heard Miles (Davis) for the first time and that was it. Miles, Coltrane \u2013 these guys were killing. I was lucky that I got to work with Miles. He was looking for a guitarist. I flew to Europe and 24 hours later was playing in his band. Miles was at the top of his form then.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, a new element arrived \u2013 Indian music.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy introduction to India came from getting involved in meditation and yoga in the 60s \u2013 coming out of LSD, asking questions, looking for answers,\u201d said McLaughlin. \u201cWhat blew me away with Indian music was the level of musicianship and improvisation \u2013 also the sentiments behind it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I had to study Indian music. I had to play with Indian musicians. By 1972, I was a student of veena. After a while, I realized I spent too much time on veena and not enough on guitar. That same year, I met Zakir, who was already on his way to greatness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were at Ali Akbar Khan\u2019s house hanging out. I had an acoustic guitar and we started playing. After 30 seconds, I knew I had to play with Zakir. That was the start of Shakti.\u201d<\/p>\n

Video link for Shakti — https:\/\/youtu.be\/E639RwijZmo<\/a>.
\nThe show at the Keswick Theater on August 22 will start at 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Tickets range from $69-$139.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times On August 22, the Keswick Theater (291 N. Keswick Avenue, Glenside, 215-572-7650,\u00a0www.keswicktheatre.com) will present a special concert \u2013 a concert featuring a rarely touring international supergroup \u2013 a concert where East meets West and North meets South. That band is Shakti. It is led by English guitarist\u00a0John McLaughlin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5166],"tags":[3912,12153,12154],"class_list":["post-34057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-d-arts-entertainment","tag-featured","tag-shakti","tag-the-keswick-theater"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=34057"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34058,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34057\/revisions\/34058"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/34056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=34057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=34057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coatesvilletimes.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=34057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}