June 23, 2009

Maestro Ali Akbar Khan passes on

The great Indian musician Ali Akbar Khan, famed teacher of the 25-string lute-like sarod, passed on last Thursday in Marin County, California, where he taught since 1967. Violinist Yehudi Menuhin once called him the greatest musician in the world, though his father's student Ravi Shankar became more popular. You can read obits at the SF Chronicle and New York Times.

His shows with the gracious drummer Zakir Hussain (son of Ravi Shankar drummer Alla Rakha) were particularly entertaining. You can treat much of this stuff as ambient music or pay attention as closely as you're able.

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