Guwahati: In a moment of great pride, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan and tabla player Zakir Hussain’s fusion band ‘Shakti’ bagged the Grammy award for ‘Best Global Music Album’ on Monday. The accolade was showered for their latest album ‘This Moment’.
Zakir Hussain’s group Shakti includes vocalist Shankar Mahadevan and was formed by violinist L Shankar, percussionist Vikku Vinayakram, and British guitarist John McLaughlin. The band also has percussionist V Salvaganesh and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan.
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The fusion band clinched the award by getting the better of other artists including Bokante, Susana Baca, Davido and Burna Bay.
Guitarist John McLaughlin said, “This Moment, the new ‘studio’ album is a true labour of love. The music on this recording represents a quantum leap in the musical evolution of Shakti. It represents 50 years of working and playing together beginning in 1973.”
“The numerous concerts we have played, the number of times we have been together working on our musical development, have brought us to the point where it has all been brought together here and now in the 21st Century,” he added.
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In a picture shared by the Grammys on their official X (formerly known as Twitter) account, Mahadevan and another member of the band, Ganesh Rajagopalan, can be seen accepting the award on stage.
“Congrats Best Global Music Album winner — ‘This Moment’ Shakti. #GRAMMYs,” the Grammy wrote in the post.
In an acceptance speech, Mahadevan said, “Thank you boys. Thank you, God, family, friends, and India. India, we are proud of you…Last but not least, I would like to dedicate this award to my wife whom every note of my music is dedicated to.” The musician’s speech evoked a loud cheer from the crowd.
‘This Moment’ is Shakti’s first new album in over 45 years.