It is that time of year again... time to select the Most Visionary Asian American Male Activist Alive and crown him Mr. Hyphen 2009!

Saturday, November
14, 7 – 10pm
Oakland Asian Cultural Center
All ages welcome, 21+
for alcohol

Maestro Ali Akbar Khan, considered by many to be among the greatest musicians of our times, passed away in San Rafael, CA on June 18, 2009. He was in many ways a true embodiment of Asian America and was one of India's most important musical ambassadors to the west. His father, the mystical music genius Baba Allaudin Khan, trained Ali Akbar Khan rigorously and instructed him to take classical north Indian music to the West. Khansahib carried with him the open spirit of his father, who made it possible for any one, regardless of background, to learn classical north Indian music from a master. He established the Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael, CA in 1967, and went on to teach thousands of students.

You can watch a brief video of Ali Akbar Khan demonstrating the sarode here. 

The following obituary was written by Teed Rockwell:

Ustad Ali Akbar Khan
1922 - ­2009

 

Swara Samrat Maestro Ali Akbar Khan passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on June 18, 2009.  Khansahib (as he was affectionately and respectfully addressed) had been a dialysis patient since 2004, and had been enduring numerous health issues ever since. He continued teaching publicly at the Ali Akbar College until just weeks ago, and taught music at home until the day he died.
 
The obituaries throughout India and the rest of the world have rightly stressed that Khansahib was a musical genius of the stature of Beethoven and Mozart. However, those of us in the Bay Area are especially grateful for another of his great accomplishments. This was not something he directly created, but rather something that he inspired in others. Students of Indian music came to the Bay area solely because he was here, from Japan, South America, Europe, even India itself. Other great Indian teachers followed, and the result was a community devoted to classical Indian culture that deeply influenced the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The early issues of India Currents were devoted almost entirely to calendar listings of concerts by these students and teachers, and Khansahib remained the central inspiration of that community for decades. He was admired and loved, and will be greatly missed.
 
Khansahib was famous for his performances at the world greatest concert halls, and for his many recordings. Eight months of every year, however, he gave himself entirely to his students. We were constantly inspired by Khansahib¹s example of artistic dedication and compassionate patience, and  anyone who tried to master the profound intricacies of his lessons was forever changed by that experience. These lessons contained centuries of tradition seamlessly interwoven with his own unique genius. No one learned how to play them as well as he did, but everyone learned how to listen, and shared their enthusiasm with friends, and friends of friends. The result was an audience for Hindustani music which was unmatched for both ethnic diversity and devotion to artistic excellence. It is both heartbreaking and inspiring to realize that this community can and must now go on without him.
           
The memorial service and burial was held at Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery Sunday, June 21st at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Ali Akbar College of Music (AACM) for the Ali Akbar Khan Library. Online donations can be made at http://aacm.org

Teed Rockwell
Music Critic, India Currents.
2419A Tenth St.
Berkeley CA 94710
www.myspace.com/teedrockwell

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to AACM for the Ali Akbar Khan Library.

__________________

Robin Sukhadia
Mr. Hyphen 2006/2007

Tabla solos and duets by four of the bay area's emerging tabla talents. www.sangaticenter.org 3049 22nd Street SF CA 94110

It is that time of year again... selecting the Most Visionary Asian American Male Activist Alive and crowning him Mr. Hyphen 2008. Click here for official contest rules. This is the third year of this illustrious contest, and I am writing to clarify that behind the campiness is a thought provoking, highly relevant, and substantive opportunity to highlight positive community activism by some of our most inspiring Asian American men.

Dear Friends, Mr Hyphen 2006 is heading to Los Angeles!

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Koon-ja Kim, 81, was among an estimated 200,000 girls forced to serve Japanese soldiers as sexual slaves from 1937 to 1945. She spoke to a packed audience at CalArts today.

I have been meaning to write for some time, I can only say that Mr. Hyphen has been on a Hiatus of sorts...the holidays and a new semester at school, my last, have kept me from writing and sharing. Alas, I'm back! Since the last entry, much has been happening globally and locally, and so I thought to share a bit about what is currently on my mind. Most importantly, today...i just got home after seeing an incredibly inspiring and intense documentary called House of Sharing, directed and produced by CalArts MFA Film Student, Hein Seok. The film contextualizes the contemporary policy issues that surround the horrific sexual slavery of Korean comfort women during WW II by the Japanese military. The film features a number of talented MFA students at CalArts including Nathan Ruyle (Sound Design/Mixing).

So what and who exactly, you may ask, is Mr. Hyphen?

The coveted Mr. Hyphen Blinged Out Belt