ResonanZ – The Drums For Peace Concert

From Al Bawaba:

ResonanZ – The Drums For Peace Concert

Classical, Jazz & Fusion music lovers will have the opportunity to watch some of the world’s best Percussionists perform live at a major International concert in Dubai that will bring together a line-up of exceptionally talented artistes led by tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain of India.
Conceived by the Dubai-based Transworld Group, a leading shipping / logistics company that has been at the forefront of promoting classical art and entertainment in the UAE, the event is presented in Dubai by ING Asia Private Bank, one of the top private banks in the region.
The unique ensemble of percussionists titled “ResonanZ – The Drums for Peace Concert” will be held on Saturday, 18 February, 2006 at the Madinat Jumeirah. It is organized by Arte Compass, a leading Event Management Agency in the country and also the Events & Marketing arm of the Transworld Group which has operations that girdle the globe.

Widely considered a chief architect of the contemporary world music movement, Zakir Hussain is acclaimed worldwide as a genius in his field. Son of the legendary tabla master Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, Zakir’s contribution to world music features many historic collaborations including Shakti, which he founded with John McLaughlin and L. Shankar; the Diga Rhythm Band; Planet Drum with Mickey Hart; and recordings and performances with artists as diverse as George Harrison, Joe Henderson, Van Morrison, Airto Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo, Pharoah Sanders, Billy Cobham and Charles Lloyd.

In addition to Zakir Hussain, the star cast at the concert of rhythm and melody in Dubai will also feature other renowned percussionists including drummer extraordinaire Terry Bozzio, who has worked closely, and for several years with the rock legend Frank Zappa, Ustad Sultan Khan, India’s celebrated sarangi player, the awesomely talented Giovanni Hidalgo from Puerto Rico on the Congo drums, Abbos Kosimov, Uzbekistan’s flamboyant tambournist and the irrepressible and vibrant Fazal Qureshi, a strong favourite with Dubai audiences. India’s Kala Ramnath, an accomplished violinist who has worked on several prestigious world music and fusion projects, Salim Merchant, acclaimed Bollywood music director and musical genius on the keyboard and Vijay Chauhan, a famed exponent of the dholak, the Indian double-sided drum, lending earthy ethnic tones to an exquisite world music event.

A group of Uzbeki drummers will add dramatically to the Arabic appeal. Clearly, a once in a lifetime concert, a coming-together of the rich, vibrant and colorful rhythms at a world-class music event.

Commenting on the concert in Dubai, Ramesh Ramakrishnan, Chairman of the Transworld Group, which owns and manages a range of immensely successful businesses, said: "Music is intrinsic to the cultural and social fabric of the society in which we live, and the Transworld Group is happy to present this unique entertainment extravaganza, as part of our on-going efforts towards propagating the arts in the UAE, and encouraging people of different nationalities to enjoy, appreciate and celebrate various arts and cultures. The Transworld Group acknowledges the support extended by leading private / public sector establishments, especially ING Asia Private Bank to ensure the success of this rare gathering of well-known percussionists. They are all doyens in their field and are extremely creative with the ability to improvise live on stage. Ustad Zakir Hussain has conceptualized the whole show and will lead the masters of percussion on this enthralling night of pure music”.

He added: “The diverse backgrounds of these artistes hugely influenced our selection of the best from the East and West, in line with our aim of putting together an event that would help promote peace, solidarity and harmony among different cultures and communities.
“Dubai which is home to a myriad of cultures is no doubt the perfect place where these top artistes can simultaneously showcase their magical talents to a wide international audience. We welcome residents and visitors to the UAE to join us in celebrating the beautiful rhythm and melodies from around the world, and provide even greater inspiration to the artistes who have given us their whole-hearted support”.

Y. N Nagendra, Managing Director, Global Head of India Marketing, ING Asia Private Bank said: ” We are looking forward to presenting this prestigious event. Dubai is a vibrant city, and we are proud to be a part of its business and cultural landscape. “ResonanZ - The Drums For Peace Concert” featuring artistes from all over the world truly symbolizes the energy and spirit of this fascinating city”

The ING Group is a global financial services company of Dutch origin with 150 years of experience, providing a wide array of banking, insurance and asset management services in over 50 countries and ranks among the largest financial services companies in Europe in terms of market capitalization. ING Asia Private Bank is ranked as one of the top private banks in the region. By consistently delivering superior performance and service to its clients, ING Asia Private Bank has more than doubled its asset base in the past 5 years to USD 10 billion. The ING mission statement “to set the standard in helping our customers manage their financial future” is at the heart of their presence in the UAE and the participation in this prestigious event, “ResonanZ – The Drums for Peace Concert” reflects their commitment to community, art and culture that is an integral part of their exclusive client base.

From its international headquarters at Jebel Ali Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates, the Transworld Group is engaged in a diverse range of businesses including ship ownership, freight forwarding, logistics, ship management and ship agency. The Jebel Ali office building is a major attraction, as it is the first commercial building to be established on the southern side of the Free Zone. Transworld Group, employs over 1,500 people worldwide, and has offices in Dubai, India, Singapore and Malaysia, with joint ventures in Kuwait, Oman (Muscat), the UK (London) and the USA (New York). The Transworld Group has supported a number of community and social events in the UAE, India and Singapore, and hosted gala events featuring famous film and music celebrities through its events management company, Arte Compass.

Check out video of Zakir Hussain here