Indian jazz band Shakti bagged Best Global Music Album for This Moment—their first studio release in 46 years—at Sunday’s 2024 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
The recently reunited fusion band, once named “Turiyananda Sangit,” was originally founded by British guitarist John McLaughlin, Indian tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, and percussionist Vikku Vinayakram in 1973; they were soon joined by violinist L. Shankar and the late mridangam maestro Ramnad Raghavan. The five released three albums before disbanding in 1977; the band briefly launched a spinoff in 1997 called Remember Shakti and would regroup in 2020 with McLaughlin, Hussain, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh, and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan.
Mahadevan, Selvaganesh, and Rajagopalan secured the band’s Grammy award alongside founding members McLaughlin and Hussain.
As a result of their long-term hiatus, Shakti is lesser known among younger audiences but with present-day academy recognition—and a 50th anniversary world tour last year—they could be set to return to global prominence. This Moment, released on June 30, comprises eight songs by the group. The album won against popular Nigerian musician Burna Boys I Told Them…, Nigerian American singer Davido, global group Bokanté, and Peruvian singer-songwriter Susana Baca.