Zakir Hussain – Biography, Discography & Instruments

Biography

Zakir Hussain was a jazz musician who played tabla. Zakir Hussain was born on 9 March 1951 in Mumbai and died on 15 December 2024 in San Francisco. The music is usually filed under jazz, jazz fusion and world music. The discography here lists 73 albums, from “Percussion From India, Tabla In Solo And Duet” (1972) to “Zara” (2022). Honours include Padma Shri in Art (1988), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1990) and National Heritage Fellowship (1999).

Ustad Zakir Hussain Qureshi (9 March 1951 – 15 December 2024) was an Indian tabla player, composer, arranger, percussionist, music producer and film actor who was based for much of his career in the San Francisco Bay Area. The eldest son of esteemed tabla player Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain was widely regarded as the greatest tabla player of his generation and one of its finest percussionists. He produced music across multiple genres and contributed to popularizing Indian classical music to a global audience. Often prefixed by the honorific title of 'Ustad', Hussain was awarded the United States National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, the highest award given to traditional artists and musicians. He was also given the Government of India's Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya, in 2018.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

Percussion From India, Tabla In Solo And Duet 1972 · His Master’s Voice

Kirwani 1979

Two Moods 1981 · Chandi Productions

When Time Stood Still 1982 · EMI Introducing .... 1984 · Music India Ltd Nishat Khan with Zakir Hussain 1985 · Live · His Master’s Voice

Hundred Strings of Santoor 1986

The 'Ultimate' in Percussion Music 1986 · His Master’s Voice Making Music 1987 · ECM Records

Zakir Hussain & Sultan Khan 1987

Rāg Madhuvantī / Rāg Miśra Tilang 1988 · Nimbus Records

Tabla Duet 1988 · Chhanda Dhara

Indian Night Live Stuttgart '88 1989 · Live · Chhanda Dhara

Master of the Bamboo Flute Volume II 1989

Raga Marwa & Misra Desh 1989 · Pyramid

Venu 1989 · Live · Rykodisc

Romantic Sound of Sitar 1990

India: Raga purya kalyan 1991 · Network Medien

Maestro's Choice: Series One: Tabla 1991 · Music Today

Memorable Tabla Duet 1991 · Live · Chhanda Dhara

Rag Pilu - Rag Khammaj 1991 · Moment! Records

Sarangi and Tabla 1991 · Moment! Records

Sur Taal 1991 · T‐Series

Tabla Duet 1991 · Live · Moment! Records

Tabla Tradition, Rhythms From India 1991 · Saregama Vocal 1991 · Live · Moment! Records Zakir Hussain & the Rhythm Experience 1991 · Moment! Records

Rãga-s du nord et du sud 1992 · Live · Disques Adès

Sangeet Sartaj, Volumes 1 & 2 1992

Violin, Tabla 1992

Rãga du début de la nuit 1993 · Adès

Santoor 1993 · Moment! Records Soundscapes - Music of the Deserts 1993 · Music Today Tabla 1994 · Tips Industries Ltd. Thought N Beats 1994 · T‐Series

Kirwani: Essence of a Raag 1995 · Amiata Records

Maestro's Choice - Zakir Hussain 1995

The Elements: Space 1995 · Music Today

Energy 1996 · Live · BMG Crescendo

Ragas Kirwani & Kajri - 75th Birthday Celebration 1996 · Navras Records The One And Only 1996 · Magnasound Melody & Rhythm 1997 · Magnasound Drums of India: Ecstasy 1998 · Saregama Essence of Rhythm 1998 · PolyGram Night Spinner 1998 Sambandh 1998 · Terrascape

Drums of India 1999 · RPG

A Percussion Ensemble of Magical Brilliance 2002 · Live · Chhanda Dhara

Sonorous Sound of Sarangi 2002 · Live · Chhanda Dhara The Mystic Masseur 2002 · Milan Garima Vol. 2 2003 · Legendary Legacy The Flow of Time 2003 · Navras Records

A Journey 2004

Shared Moments 2004 · Navras Records

Bamboo Music 2005 · Rasā Music

Rhythmic Impressions of Ustad Zakir Hussain 2006 · Navras Records Golden Strings of the Sarode 2007 · Living Media India Legends Forever 2007 · Sony NAD

Mesmerizing Maestros 2009 · Saregama

Rhythm of Love 2010 · Saregama

Zara 2022

Captivating Melodies of Sitar · Sony Music

Ethereal Rhythms Flights of Improvisation

Kirwani: Essence Of A Raag

Maestro's Choice: Series 2: Tabla

Navras

Possession · Live

Raag · Worldwide Records

Raga Lalit, Raga Bairagi Bhairav

Ragas Kaushi Kannada & Bhairvi · Live · Navras Records

Together Vanaprastham - The Last Dance

Also plays on

Albums where Zakir Hussain is credited as a sideman

1977	Natural Elements — Shakti	bongos, dholak, tabla, timbales, triangle, vocals
1981	Who’s to Know — Shankar	tabla
1984	Mahavishnu — Mahavishnu	percussion
1989	A Question of Time — Jack Bruce	tabla, frame drum
1995	The Promise — John McLaughlin	tabla
1999	Save Our Children — Pharoah Sanders	talking drum
1999	Dawg Duos — David Grisman	percussion, performer
2002	Faces & Places — Joe Zawinul	tabla
2006	Industrial Zen — John McLaughlin	tabla
2018	Sounds of Mirrors — Dhafer Youssef	percussion, tabla
2019	Good Hope — Dave Holland, Zakir Hussain, Chris Potter	tabla
2020	Is That So? — John McLaughlin, Shankar Mahadevan & Zakir Hussain	tabla

Member of

Shakti 1975– · band

Awards

1988 Padma Shri in Art
1990 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
1999 National Heritage Fellowship
2002 Padma Bhushan
2006 Kalidas Samman
2008 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary World Music Album
2022 Kyoto Prize in Arts and Philosophy
2022 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
2023 Padma Vibhushan in Art

Listen on Spotify

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Zakir Hussain play?

Zakir Hussain is known for playing tabla.

When and where was Zakir Hussain born?

Zakir Hussain was born 9 March 1951 in Mumbai.

What are Zakir Hussain's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include Percussion From India, Tabla In Solo And Duet (1972), When Time Stood Still (1982), Introducing .... (1984), Nishat Khan with Zakir Hussain (1985) and The 'Ultimate' in Percussion Music (1986).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.