IMAGE: The Incomparable Zakir Hussain. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
It’s a proud day for India, as Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain’s fusion band Shakti won the Grammy for Best Global Music Album for their latest release This Moment.
Taking to X, Grammys shared the post and wrote, ‘Congrats Best Global Music Album winner – ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs.’
They were nominated along with artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy and Davido.
This Moment features eight songs created by John McLaughlin (guitar, guitar synth), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan (vocalist), V Selvaganesh (percussionist) and Ganesh Rajagopalan (violinist).
In his acceptance speech, Mahadevan said, ‘Thank you boys. Thank you God, family, friends and India. India, we are proud of you.’
His shout-out to the nation evoked a loud cheer from the crowd.
Mahadevan also thanked his wife Sangeeta for her constant support.
‘Last but not the least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife whom every note of my music is dedicated to,’ he said.
This Moment was released on June 30, 2023.
IMAGE: Shankar Mahadevan at the Grammys. Photograph: Kind courtesy Grammys/X
Besides winning the Best Global Music album, Ustad Zakir Hussain won two more Grammys.
He won the Grammy in the Best Global Music Performance category for Pashto.
In his acceptance speech for Pashto, the 72-year-old Mumbai-born tabla maestro said, ‘Thanks to the Academy, thanks to all these great musicians for giving us beautiful music…our deepest thanks to our families…without them, we are nothing… without love, without music, without harmony, we are nothing.’
The Ustad, who has collaborated with Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia for As We Speak, also won a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Instrumental Album category.
In a post on X, Grammy winner Ricky Kej, who attended the ceremony, hailed Zakir Hussain and the other artistes: ‘Ustad Zakir Hussain, the living legend creates history by winning 3 Grammys in one night!!! Rakesh Chaurasia wins 2!! .. and I am blessed to witness it,’ he wrote.
The Ustad and his collaborators, however, lost out in the Best Instrumental Composition for which John Williams’ Helena’s Theme won the Grammy. The Ustadm Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia were nominated in this category for Motion.
