
The 2024 Grammy Awards, a highly anticipated event in the music industry, is currently underway with Trevor Noah as the host and organized by the Recording Academy. The star-studded night features stellar performances from artists like Dua Lipa, Oprah Winfrey, Meryl Streep, SZA, Billie Eilish, and more. As the winners are revealed, it’s notable that Shankar Mahadevan and Zakir Hussain emerged as big winners at the Grammys.
The international fusion band Shakti, reassembled for the occasion, secured the award for Best Global Music Album with their album, “This Moment.” This marked the group’s first album in over four and a half decades, featuring eight original compositions by John McLaughlin (guitar, guitar synth), Zakir Hussain (tabla), Shankar Mahadevan (vocalist), V Selvaganesh (percussionist), and Ganesh Rajagopalan (violinist). Competing against artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy, and Davido, Shakti emerged triumphant in the challenging field, clinching the Grammy for Best Global Music Album.
Reflecting on “This Moment,” John McLaughlin expressed, “This Moment, the new ‘studio’ album is a true labor of love. The music on this recording represents a quantum leap in the musical evolution of Shakti, spanning 50 years of collaboration since 1973. The culmination of numerous concerts and shared musical development brought us to this point in the 21st Century.”
The album “This Moment” was released on June 30, 2023. During its production, each band member contributed from their respective home cities, resulting in a collaborative effort. Shakti’s 50th Anniversary Tour last year, covering 27 cities and 17 performances across the United States, added a commemorative touch to the album’s release.