Zakir

The Indian composer is Zakir Hussain, a virtuoso on the tabla, the articulate Indian drum set that modulates from clicks to strikes to tuned notes played with fingers, wrists, palms and other available parts of the hand.

NSO review: Tabla meets West as 'India' concert strikes a crossover convergence 2011

To enrich his choices, the conductor asked the tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain to write a new piece for the festival.

Restoring the National's Glory David Mermelstein 2011

I learned a lot by watching how Edgar and Zakir worked, and then it was finally time to do it on my own because when you've done that a couple of times, you go, Gosh, I wonder if I can do that.

Mike Ragogna: Boardwalk Empires, Mockingbirds, Concertos & Rocket Science: Conversations with The Jayhawks, Bela Fleck and Vince Giordano Mike Ragogna 2011

One of the few Indian classical performers, tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, will be debuting a concerto he composed, joined by the National Symphony Orchestra.

Music review: Kennedy Center 'Maximum India' festival opener U. Srinivas 2011

When it comes to classical type composition, I don't really know what I'm doing, but being around him and being able to write these two pieces together for bass and banjo...also, we did one with a great Indian musician, Zakir Hussain.

Mike Ragogna: Boardwalk Empires, Mockingbirds, Concertos & Rocket Science: Conversations with The Jayhawks, Bela Fleck and Vince Giordano Mike Ragogna 2011

I learned a lot by watching how Edgar and Zakir worked, and then it was finally time to do it on my own because when you've done that a couple of times, you go, Gosh, I wonder if I can do that.

Mike Ragogna: Boardwalk Empires, Mockingbirds, Concertos & Rocket Science: Conversations with The Jayhawks, Bela Fleck and Vince Giordano Mike Ragogna 2011

"Why have they invited Salman Rushdie now?" a professor at the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies asked, "At a time when five big states are going to election?"

Deji Olukotun: How Two South Asian Literary Festivals Are Defining the Role of the Writer Deji Olukotun 2012

"Why have they invited Salman Rushdie now?" a professor at the Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies asked, "At a time when five big states are going to election?"

Deji Olukotun: How Two South Asian Literary Festivals Are Defining the Role of the Writer Deji Olukotun 2012

When it comes to classical type composition, I don't really know what I'm doing, but being around him and being able to write these two pieces together for bass and banjo...also, we did one with a great Indian musician, Zakir Hussain.

Mike Ragogna: Boardwalk Empires, Mockingbirds, Concertos & Rocket Science: Conversations with The Jayhawks, Bela Fleck and Vince Giordano Mike Ragogna 2011

White House Chief Technology Officer Aneesh Chopra dubbed the "Indian George Clooney" by Jon Stewart told us he was thrilled to see tabla drummer Zakir Hussain perform for the crowd.

'Maximum India,' in full bling 2011