February is soon approaching, and Mumbai is in for some great shows. On February 3 every year, many music fans from across the city land up bleary-eyed at Sion’s Shanmukhananda Hall at 6.30 a.m. to attend the annual tribute to tabla legend Ustad Allarakha on his death anniversary. Held in three parts and spearheaded by Allarakha’s eldest son Ustad Zakir Hussain, A Homage To Abbaji — also called the Barsi — is one of the most-awaited occasions in Mumbai’s live music calendar.
It’s one of the three big events of the month, along with the Mahindra Blues Festival, which is happening at the Mehboob Studios, Bandra, on February 9 and 10, and the Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI) Spring Season at the Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, Nariman Point, on February 4, 9 and 16.
First, a bit about the Allarakha tribute. Each year, the performers have included India’s leading classical musicians and percussionists. What is also special is the appearance of international guests, some of who are leading lights in their fields. Guitarist John McLaughlin, saxophonists Charles Lloyd, Chris Potter and George Brooks, banjo great Bela Fleck, bassist Dave Holland, conga drum genius Giovanni Hidalgo, talking drum exponent Sikiru Adepoju, oud player Dhafer Youssef, Japanese taiko master Leonard Eto, multi-percussionist Pete Lockett and drummers Billy Cobham, Vinnie Colaiuta, Eric Harland and Simon Phillips have all graced the stage.
This year’s line-up is as interesting. The morning session, Taal Pranaam, will begin with a tribute by students of the Ustad Allarakha Institute of Music. This will be followed by a sarod performance by Amaan and Ayaan Ali Bangash, and a Carnatic vocal recital by Bharat Sundar. In the afternoon, Taal Tapasya will feature tabla player Sanju Sahai, drummer Gino Banks and Thiruvaarur Bakthavatsalam on mridangam.
The finale, Celebrate Abbaji, will have renditions by pianist Samuel Yirga and vocalist Genet Masresha, both talented artistes from Ethiopia. Hussain will then lead the multi-star jam session.
If the Abbaji tribute attracts followers of Indian classical, percussion, jazz and world music, the Mahindra event has an audience that’s inclined towards the blues. Since it’s held over two days, one has many people coming in from other cities, mainly Pune, Bengaluru and New Delhi. The festival has so far featured blues artistes like Buddy Guy, John Mayall, Taj Mahal, Jimmie Vaughan, Derek Trucks, Susan Tedeschi, Keb Mo and Walter Trout, besides Indian acts Soulmate and Blackstratblues. This year has two highlights – legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite and singer Beth Hart.
Musselwhite, who turns 75 today, is known as one of the first American white blues musicians, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Best known for his albums Stand Back!, The Harmonica According To Charlie Musselwhite and the Grammy-winning Get Up with Ben Harper.
For her part, Hart is not only known for her contralto vocals, but she also plays piano, guitar, bass, cello and percussion. This year’s line-up will also feature singer Sugarray Rayford, vocalist-harmonica player Brandon Santini and Indian band Arinjoy Trio.
For the Western classical aficionados, two performances at SOI’s spring season will be extra-special. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony will be conducted by British conductor Martyn Brabbins, and Zakir Hussain will present Peshkar , a concerto for tabla and orchestra.
