Shakti (band)
Encyclopedia
Shakti was a group which played a novel acoustic fusion
music which combined Indian music with elements of jazz; it was perhaps the earliest practitioner of the musical genre world fusion.
Its leading member was the English guitar
player John McLaughlin
, but it also featured the Indian violin
player L. Shankar
. It also included Zakir Hussain
(on tabla
), and Ramnad Raghavan
(on the Mridangam) and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram (on Ghatam
).
In addition to fusing Western and Indian music, Shakti also represented a fusion of the Hindustani
and Carnatic music
traditions, since Hussain is from the North while the other Indian members are from the South.
It came together in 1975, after the dissolution of the second incarnation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and toured fairly extensively during the period 1975-1977; it made only sporadic appearances (with personnel changes) thereafter.
After 1977 the albums which L. Shankar
recorded with Z. Hussain and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram stayed close to the music made popular by Shakti.
Some twenty years later McLaughlin and Hussain put together another band with the same concept, called Remember Shakti
, including V. Selvaganesh
(son of T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram ), mandolin player U. Shrinivas and eventually Shankar Mahadevan
.
Two concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 6, 1976 and July 8, 1977) are included among the 17 CDs of the box Montreux Concerts by John McLaughlin
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
music which combined Indian music with elements of jazz; it was perhaps the earliest practitioner of the musical genre world fusion.
Its leading member was the English guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
player John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin (musician)
John McLaughlin , also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer...
, but it also featured the Indian violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
player L. Shankar
L. Shankar
Lakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
. It also included Zakir Hussain
Zakir Hussain (musician)
Zakir Hussain , , is an Indian tabla player, musical producer, film actor and composer.-Early life:Hussain was born in Mumbai, India to the legendary tabla player Alla Rakha. He attended St...
(on tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
), and Ramnad Raghavan
Ramnad Raghavan
Ramnad V. Raghavan was a South Indian player of the mridangam. He was born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, to P. Vaidyanatha Ayyar of Kooniyur, Tirunelveli district, and Brhannayaki....
(on the Mridangam) and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram (on Ghatam
Ghatam
The ghaṭam is a percussion instrument used in the Carnatic music of South India. Its analogue in Rajasthan is known as the madga and pani mataqa "water jug"....
).
In addition to fusing Western and Indian music, Shakti also represented a fusion of the Hindustani
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
and Carnatic music
Carnatic music
Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...
traditions, since Hussain is from the North while the other Indian members are from the South.
It came together in 1975, after the dissolution of the second incarnation of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and toured fairly extensively during the period 1975-1977; it made only sporadic appearances (with personnel changes) thereafter.
After 1977 the albums which L. Shankar
L. Shankar
Lakshminarayanan Shankar, also known as L. Shankar and Shenkar, is an Indian-born American violinist, singer and composer.-Early life:...
recorded with Z. Hussain and T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram stayed close to the music made popular by Shakti.
Some twenty years later McLaughlin and Hussain put together another band with the same concept, called Remember Shakti
Remember Shakti
Remember Shakti is a quintet which combines elements of traditional Indian music with elements of jazz. The band consists of English guitarist John McLaughlin, Zakir Hussain , U. Srinivas , Shankar Mahadevan , and V. Selvaganesh , who are all of Indian descent...
, including V. Selvaganesh
V. Selvaganesh
V. Selvaganesh is an Indian percussionist working in the Carnatic tradition, and is one of the leading kanjira player of his generation. He is also known as "Chella S. Ganesh."-Early life:...
(son of T. H. "Vikku" Vinayakram ), mandolin player U. Shrinivas and eventually Shankar Mahadevan
Shankar Mahadevan
Shankar Mahadevan is an Indian music composer and singer. He is a part of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio team that composes for Indian films and a playback singer.-Early life:...
.
Two concerts at the Montreux Jazz Festival (July 6, 1976 and July 8, 1977) are included among the 17 CDs of the box Montreux Concerts by John McLaughlin
Discography
- 1976 ShaktiShakti (album)Shakti is the eponymous first album by Shakti, described as "another brain blowing achievement" by Agha Yasir .- Track listing :#"Joy" Shakti is the eponymous first album by Shakti, described as "another brain blowing achievement" by Agha Yasir .- Track listing :#"Joy" Shakti is the eponymous first...
(Columbia)- LIVE ALBUM - 1976 A Handful of BeautyA Handful of BeautyA Handful of Beauty is a studio album released by the world fusion band Shakti in 1976.-Tracklist:# "La Danse Du Bonheur" – 4:48# "Lady L" – 7:23# "India" – 12:31...
(Columbia) - 1977 Natural ElementsNatural Elements (Shakti album)Natural Elements is a studio album by the world fusion band Shakti. It was released in 1977 on CBS Records.-Track listing:...
(CBS)