Shakti’s 50th anniversary tour comes to the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 S.W. Broadway, Portland, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5. Tickets range from $79.75 to $169.75, available at portland5.com/arlene-schnitzer-concert-hall/events/shakti-50th-anniversary-tour-featuring-john-mclaughlin-zakir
An unprecedented, transcontinental collaboration, Shakti united eastern and western musicians, and in the process forged the template for what is now called “world music.” Now John McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain are resuming their journey—joined by percussionist V. Selvaganesh, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan—for an album of new compositions and a world tour marking Shakti’s 50th anniversary, joined by Bela Fleck. Today’s Shakti honors the legacy of the original band by acknowledging their tradition while continuing to push beyond existing boundaries into new musical landscapes.