Shakti, the ensemble co-founded by British guitarist and bandleader John McLaughlin and master Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain, has announced their plans to mark 50 years of music with a full-fledged tour, which will feature opening sets from Béla Fleck, John Scofield, Bill Frisell and Jerry Douglas, at select stops.
The concert’s main frame will see McLaughlin (guitar), Hussain (tabla), vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and percussionist Selvaganesh Vinayakram come together when the run commences next month, with a pair of back-to-back performances at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo venue on June 27 and 28.
Following the initial on-stage celebrations, the group will traverse through Europe, stopping in Romania, for a festival appearance, prior to added gigs in Hungary, Norway, Germany and eventually the Netherlands, on July 9. After some time off, the band’s U.S. tour dates will pick up beginning in mid-August.
In America, the band will kick off their run on the East Coast, beginning in Boston, before working through the Midwest and eventually turning up for a sprinkling of shows along the West Coast. Finally, Shakti will conclude their U.S. jaunt with a gig slated for the Southeastern region of the U.S., where the band is scheduled to deliver their global blend of music in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 16.
On the topic of the upcoming tour, Frisell offered via press release: “I remember so clearly the moment… I had just graduated high school. Dreaming about possibilities. The excitement and anticipation brought home the new Miles Davis album. What was going to happen next? In a Silent Way. Here were the very first notes I heard John McLaughlin play and where my love for his music began and continues to this day. Stunning. Life changing. The mystery. The beauty. The SOUND. I’ve been chasing it ever since.”
Shakti’s 50th Anniversary Tour occurs around the same time as the June 23 release of This Moment, the group’s first studio album in more than 45 years. “A part of the problem with making a studio recording has always been the fact that we live on different continents, and we all follow our individual careers – in addition to working together in Shakti,” said McLaughlin via press release.
“This Moment is the result of the enthusiasm and excitement of all the band members to use the latest recording technology in recording this great Album: This Moment. We are all thrilled and looking forward to playing this music live,” McLaughlin concluded.
A full list of Shakti’s 2023 tour dates is available below. Visit www.Shakti50.com for additional details.
Europe:
June 27 – Hammersmith Eventim Apollo – London, England
June 28 – Hammersmith Eventim Apollo – London, England
June 30 – Timisoara Jazz Festival – Timișoara, Romania
July 2 – Erkel Theatre, Budapest – Hungary
July 5 – Kongsberg Jazz Festival Kongsberg – Norway
July 7 – Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg – Germany
July 9 – North Sea Jazz Festival, Rotterdam – Netherlands
U.S.:
Aug 17 – Wang Theater – Boston ***
Aug 19 – The Capitol Theatre – Port Chester, N.Y. ***
Aug 20 – NJPAC – Newark, N.J. *
Aug 22 – The Keswick – Glenside, Pa.*
Aug 23 – Wolftrap – Vienna, Va. *
Aug 25 – Cobb Energy Center – Atlanta, Ga.*
Aug 27 – Koka Booth Amp – Cary, N.C.*
Aug 29 – Palace Theatre – Columbus, Ohio*
Aug 31 – Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn.***
Sept 3 – Ravinia Festival – Highland Park, Ill.*
Sept 5 – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall – Portland, Ore.****
Sept 6 – Paramount Theatre – Seattle*
Sept 8 – Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts – Davis, Calif. **
Sept 9 – Davies Symphony Hall – San Francisco
Sept 11 – Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine, Calif.
Sept 14 – Hill Auditorium – Ann Arbor, Mich.*
Sept 16 – Riverbend Center for the Arts – Austin, Texas*
* w/ Béla Fleck
** w/ Bill Frisell
*** w/John Scofield
**** w/Jerry Douglas