Taufiq Qureshi (Percussionist and son of Ustad Alla Rakha)
Abbaji influence has not been just tabla, it has been global. In the 60s and 70s it was a mark he put on everywhere he went. He was known for his lakharis, being able to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. His influence was not just on tabla players but also drummers. That's why you have so many percussionists at this performance like Leonard Eto from Japan, percussionist Trilok Gurtu and myself, also a percussionist, Ranjeed Bharat the great drummer from Bombay, U Srinivas who is a mandolin player, Shankar Mahadevan who is a vocalist. All of them have been in some way influeneced by my father and by listening to the way he would approach rhythmic divisions. So I think his influence is global. Not just in Indian classical music.
I believe his Woodstock performance with Ravi Shankar was a landmark. It was the first time that Indians ever performed at Woodstock. The impression they created then is still lasting.
Home