Zakir Hussain and Masters of Percussion offer a lesson in rhythm at the Kennedy Center

In Indian classical music, the best a percussionist can place is a strong second; the lead performer is usually a vocalist or a stringed-instrument player who sets the piece's tone before the drummer enters. But Zakir Hussain, the world's most celebrated tabla maestro, does not have to follow standard procedure. He and the other five Masters of Percussion, who performed Sunday afternoon at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, put the rhythm first.