Shakti, a fusion ensemble, materialized during the mid-1970s from the profound creative and spiritual rapport between guitarist John McLaughlin and Indian tabla musician Zakir Hussain. The band’s cultural amalgamation transcended boundaries with elegance, skill and expertise, kindling subsequent generations of musicians to the potential of such fusions.
Inaugurated in 1974 by McLaughlin, the English guitarist from the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Shakti featured Indian violinist L. Shankar and percussionists Zakir Hussain (on tabla) and T. H. “Vikku” Vinayakram (on ghatam). The group played acoustic fusion music that combined Indian music with jazz elements. The Hindi name of the band signifies “creative intelligence, beauty, and power” in English.
Besides mixing American and Indian music, Shakti also merged the Hindustani and Carnatic music customs, given that Hussain is from the northern area of India while the other Indian members belonged to the South.
The band formed after the dissolution of the first version of the Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1974 and toured substantially between 1975 and 1977. However, it only made sporadic appearances afterward, with alterations in personnel.
Almost twenty years later, McLaughlin and Hussain established a band with a similar concept, titled Remember Shakti, which included V. Selvaganesh (son of T. H. “Vikku” Vinayakram), mandolinist U. Shrinivas, and eventually Shankar Mahadevan.
Shakti reunited in 2022. The quintet in 2023 featured John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Ganesh Rajagopalan & Selvaganesh Vinayakram.
Commenting on the band’s evolution, Zakir Hussain stated, “In our initial manifestation, we didn’t always have the time or means to explore. However, now, with decades of individual musical experiences that we have all integrated into this, the outcome shows an exceptional depth and degree of interaction within this band.”
In February 2023, Shakti announced the upcoming release of a new album titled This Moment, their first studio album in 46 years
This Moment won the 2024 Best Global Music (world music) Album Grammy Award. Producer Souvik Dutta (Abstract Logix) stated via LinkedIn: “Thank you, The Recording Academy, for this recognition. It is beyond my dreams to be part of something so seminal and important. As a producer, I spent weekends for about two years during the pandemic bringing it together, connecting all of us from different continents. Today was a great celebration and recognition for Indian music and American Jazz, and for the blended sounds and inclusive experiences they bring. Music is what bridges cultures, and Shakti always led the way with their music.”
Discography:
Shakti with John McLaughlin (Columbia Records, 1976)
A Handful of Beauty (Columbia Records, 1976)
Natural Elements (CBS Records, 1977)
This Moment (Abstract Logix, 2023)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
Updated biography and discography.