Grammy award-winning tabla musician Zakir Hussain is the 2022 Kyoto Prize Laureate in Arts and Philosophy. Dr. Hussain has opened new possibilities beyond the framework of traditional Indian music in collaboration with artists of other diverse genres worldwide. His performance innovations include a unique method of creating melodies on the tabla, originally regarded as a rhythmic instrument of accompaniment. In the process, he expanded the tabla’s possibilities and established it as one of the most expressive percussion instruments in the world.
UC San Diego Professor of Indian Classical Music, Kartik Seshardi hosts an enlightening conversation with Dr. Hussain, before the laureate takes to the stage for a thought-provoking lecture performance on the tabla and Indian classical music.