Shakti: Bridging The Gap Between Jazz, Progressive Rock and Indian Classical Music

The formation of Shakti is an important event in the history of music. It would have been probably one of the first true collaborations between the east and the west, one that would eventually influence entire genres.

Formed in 1974, Shakti was a collaboration between English guitar legend John Mclaughlin and Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, along with L. Shankar on Violin and Thetakudi Harihara Vinayakram on Ghatam (an earthen pot used for percussion).

The band further exemplified Johns interest in Indian Classical
music which he had expressed in his previous band The Mahavishnu Orchestra, becoming a fusion between both Indian Classical and Jazz while also merging Carnatic and Hindustani music traditions.

Shakti has had a massive impact on a wide variety of artists in India, from bands like Indian Ocean who popularized this style and brought it into the mainstream to artists like Talvin Singh and Asian Dub foundation who have reinvented Shakti’s music with drum n bass and electronica. The band is still active as Remember Shakti with Shankar Mahadevan and continues to inspire many musicians and listeners today.