Zakir Hussain's collaborations with other artists

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Zakir Hussain, the legendary tabla maestro, has had a prolific career marked by numerous groundbreaking collaborations with artists from various genres and backgrounds. Here are some of his most notable collaborations:

1. Ravi Shankar: Zakir Hussain frequently collaborated with the sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, contributing to the global recognition of Indian classical music.
2. Ali Akbar Khan: He worked closely with the sarod virtuoso Ali Akbar Khan, further cementing his reputation in the world of Indian classical music.
3. John McLaughlin: One of his most famous collaborations was with guitarist John McLaughlin in the band Shakti, which blended Indian classical music with jazz fusion. This collaboration introduced many Western audiences to the tabla and Indian percussion.
4. Mickey Hart: Zakir Hussain collaborated with Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead on the albums "Planet Drum" and "Global Drum Project," both of which won Grammy Awards for Best World Music Album.
5. Yo-Yo Ma: He performed with the renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, showcasing the versatility of the tabla in classical and world music settings.
6. Béla Fleck: Zakir Hussain teamed up with banjo player Béla Fleck and double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer, creating a unique fusion of bluegrass, classical, and Indian music.
7. George Harrison: He played on George Harrison's 1973 album "Living in the Material World," bringing Indian percussion to a global rock audience.
8. Van Morrison: Zakir Hussain contributed to Van Morrison's 1979 album "Into the Music," adding a distinctive rhythmic element to Morrison's music.
9. Herbie Hancock: He collaborated with jazz legend Herbie Hancock, further exploring the fusion of jazz and Indian classical music.
10. Charles Lloyd and Eric Harland: Zakir Hussain was part of the trio Sangam, which included saxophonist Charles Lloyd and drummer Eric Harland, blending jazz with Indian classical music.
11. Dave Holland and Chris Potter: He worked with bassist Dave Holland and saxophonist Chris Potter on the project CrossCurrents, which explored the intersection of jazz and Indian music.
12. Third Coast Percussion: Zakir Hussain composed a major work for Third Coast Percussion, blending tabla with a classically trained percussion ensemble.

These collaborations highlight Zakir Hussain's ability to bridge different musical traditions and his significant impact on the global music scene.