As pioneers of what is now called World Music, the group Shakti has inspired generations of musicians from around the world to explore sonic hybrids. Born of the brotherhood shared by the British guitarist and bandleader John McLaughlin and master Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain, Shakti’s intermingling of Eastern and Western musical traditions has proven transformative for both the band’s members and its listeners.
Now, fifty years after the informal conversations and jam sessions that sparked the band into existence, This Moment, Shakti’s first new studio album in more than 45 years, will be released on CD and vinyl LP on June 23, 2023 by Abstract Logix.
This Moment offers a set of new compositions and performances featuring McLaughlin (guitar, guitar synth) and Hussain (tabla) joined by vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan, and percussionist Selvaganesh Vinayakram.
Shakti will be celebrating the release of This Moment by undertaking an extensive performance schedule, including their first U.S. tour in eighteen years. Beginning August 17th, 2023 in Boston, the shows further reinforce Shakti’s pan-cultural ethos by introducing Jazz and American elements via supporting spots by either Jerry Douglas, Béla Fleck, Bill Frissell or John Scofield.
European Tour:
June 27 Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London, England
June 28 Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, London, England
June 30 Timisoara Jazz Festival, Timisoara, 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
USA: (new dates in BOLD):
Aug 17 Wang Theater, Boston, MA ***
Aug 19 The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY ***
Aug 20 NJPAC, Newark, NJ *
Aug 22 The Keswick, Glenside, PA
Aug 23 Wolftrap Vienna, VA *
Aug 25 Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta, GA*
Aug 27 Koka Booth Amp, Cary, NC*
Aug 29 Palace Theatre, Columbus, OH*
Aug 31 Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
Sept 3 Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL*
Sept 5 Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, Portland, OR****
Sept 6 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA*
Sept 8 Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, Davis, CA **
Sept 9 Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, CA
Sept 11 Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine, CA
Sept 14 Hill Auditorium, Ann Arbor, MI*
Sept 16 Riverbend Centre of the Arts, Austin, TX*
* w/ Béla Fleck
** w/ Bill Frisell
*** w/John Scofield
**** w/Jerry Douglas
