Indian Inroads

Twenty years ago, tabla player Zakir Hussain and violinist Shankar were young virtuoso Indian musicians who suddenly found themselves in the spotlight as members of the adventurous Indo-jazz group Shakti.

Leader John McLaughlin, a jazz guitarist, had nurtured a fascination with the complexities and spiritual underpinnings of classical Indian music. Though it lasted only a few years, Shakti was one of the finest East-meets-West groups yet.

Since the late ‘70s, both Shankar and Hussain have made impressive inroads in the Western music scene while practicing classical Indian traditions.

Shankar, who lives in Los Angeles, has played with Peter Gabriel, Sting, Frank Zappa and others. Hussain, who lives in the Bay Area, plays on his own multicultural projects with Mickey Hart and as a revered accompanist for Indian masters Ali Akbar Khan and Ravi Shankar.

The pair and another original member of Shakti, percussionist T.H. Vikku Vinayakram, close the world music concert series “Sounds of the Silk Road” Nov. 18 and 19 at the Skirball Cultural Center. Vinayakram plays the clay pot known as the ghatam.

It’s a chance for three great players at mid-career to nurture their Indian classical roots. Whatever their other pursuits, performing classical music is key to staying centered, they said.

“When you [play classical music], you strip yourself of other things,” Shankar said. “We are like musical priests. You have to respect what’s given to you, if you have a gift. Of course, we had to work very hard on it, but if you really misuse it or neglect it, then it goes away.”

The concerts will bring together the South Indian “Carnatic” style of Shankar and Vinayakram and the North Indian “Hindustani” style of Hussain.

“Music is religion for me and has always been that way,” Shankar said. “We are all doing the same thing, no matter what color or country we come from. It’s the same stuff.”

BE THERE

Shankar, Zakir Hussain and T.H. Vikku Vinayakram perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 18 and 19 at the Skirball Cultural Center, 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles. Tickets: $20 general admission, $17 for Skirball members and $10 for students. (323) 655-8587.