Words by J. Picard The word “Shakti” comes from the Sanskrit word “Sakti,” which means "power or divine energy." It’s the perfect name for a project that includes such virtuosity individually that the sum of its parts has been called “the pinnacle, the nirvana of [Zakir Hussain’s] musical career,” according to the tabla virtuoso himself. It’s a bold statement coming from someone who has performed with Ravi Shankar, Sultan Khan, members of The Beatles, The Grateful Dead and more. Hussain’s western counterpart, guitarist John McLaughlin, has recorded with Miles Davis, Tony Williams and of course Mahavishnu Orchestra, called Shakti a “thrill.” The band came together in 1974 along with violinist L. Shankar and T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram on Ghatam, releasing three albums over the course of 1976 & 1977, marking 46 years since their last release. A brief revival took place in 1997 called Remembering Shakti that included Selvaganesh Vinayakram (son of “Vikku”), mandolin player U.