Shakti is one of the foundational groups in world/Indo-jazz fusion, a real meeting point where Indian classical music and Western jazz didn’t just collaborate, but fully intertwined.
Formed in 1974 by guitarist John McLaughlin, Shakti set out to fuse Indian classical traditions (Carnatic & Hindustani rhythm/melody), jazz improvisation, complex rhythmic cycles (tala) and modal frameworks.
This wasn’t “East-meets-West lite”, it was deep, rigorous, and spiritual.
The classic Lineup (1970s) was, John McLaughlin, acoustic guitar (often custom scalloped fretboard), Zakir Hussain, tabla, L. Shankar, double violin, and T. H. Vinayakram, ghatam. This lineup produced some of the most jaw-dropping rhythmic interplay ever recorded.
Essential Albums
Shakti with John McLaughlin (1975) – the blueprint
A Handful of Beauty – fiery, ecstatic
Natural Elements – refined and expansive
In the late 1990s, McLaughlin revived the concept as Remember Shakti, with:
U. Srinivas, V. Selvaganesh, and later iterations featuring Shankar Mahadevan. The newer versions leaned even more into Carnatic rhythmic sophistication, while keeping the improvisational fire intact.