Shakti Pick Up Grammy Nomination for Best Global Music Album for ‘This Moment’

Jazz-fusion stalwarts Shakti, who made their return earlier this year with a tour and new album This Moment, are nominated at the Grammys for their first album in 45 years.

The album, which released in June, comprises eight new compositions and performances created by John McLaughlin (guitar, guitar synth) and Zakir Hussain (tabla), vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, percussionist V. Selvaganesh and violinist Ganesh Rajagopalan. They are nominated in the Global Music Album category alongside artists like Susana Baca, Bokante, Burna Boy and Davido.

Earlier this year, Shakti toured India in honor of their 50th anniversary and went on to release This Moment in June in memory of mandolin stalwart and a key member of the band, U. Srinivas.

McLaughlin said in a statement in June about the release of the album, “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. It represents 50 years of working and playing together beginning in 1973. The numerous concerts we have played, the number of times we have been together working on our musical development, have brought us to the point where it has all been brought together here and now in the 21st Century.”

As the nominations for the 66th Grammy Awards continue to roll out, more Indian artists are anticipating nominations.

Recently, the band also featured on the famed NPR Tiny Desk concert series. Watch below.