The Ravi Shankar Ensemble, SF Jazz

For the inaugural year of our new annual concert series presented in honor of our friend and tabla master Zakir Hussain, a sparkling all-star ensemble assembled by Ravi Shankar’s wife and daughter honor the legacy of the late sitarist and legendary musical figure — one of the greatest musicians of all time.

The Ravi Shankar Ensemble is a multi-generational collective of world class artists dedicated to the masterful compositions and enduring legacy of the uniquely legendary sitarist and builder of cultural bridges, led by sitar master Shubhendra Rao — a student and protege of the late music icon.

Shankar was the first Indian musician to make a profound impact on the West, and his influence on musical history cannot be overstated. Bringing a superhuman level of musical sophistication and joyous expressiveness to each recording and performance, Shankar was an era-defining presence at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival and Woodstock, joined by tabla genius Ustad Allah Rakha — his collaborator for three decades and father of the late Zakir Hussain.

For this event, a part of their debut tour, the ensemble presents a special program featuring visual elements from the Ravi Shankar archives alongside a dynamic selection of his soul-stirring music.