Zakir Hussain

Zakir Hussain’s name is practically synonymous with the tablas. His work ranges from classical Indian compositions to Hollywood film scores to collaborations with rockstars like George Harrison and Van Morrison. His latest albums are the collaboration As We Speak and Shakti’s This Moment. In this episode, Zakir Hussain talks to Abdul-Rehman about how his craft continues to evolve at the age of 72, his father Alla Rakha who introduced tablas to the West, his mother’s crucial role in his career, and what prevented him from becoming a rock drummer.