India, Dec. 12 -- A year since the world stilled itself in disbelief at the passing of tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Mumbai is preparing to reiterate the cadences he loved, shaped and shared generously.

This weekend, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) - an institution intrinsic to his artistic life - will host 'Maestro Forever', a two-day global tribute that gathers over 50 artistes from India and abroad, in remembrance of the musician who changed how rhythm is imagined and heard.

Hussain's bond with the NCPA is almost mythic in its longevity. In 1969, at the Centre's foundation, a young Zakir took the stage alongside his father and guru, Ustad Allarakha Khan. That started a 55-year relationship that saw him return for ep...