A "typical" percussion section would be hard, if not impossible, to define, but a more or less full sound can be obtained with congas, bongos, timbales, maracas, guiros, gourds, shakers, and cowbells.

Hablu had basic training in tabla. "It is very important to have a proper education on the grammar and taal of an instrument. There is mathematics involved in learning any instrument and it's vital to know it," explains Hablu. Being a Bangladeshi child in the '60s, he didn't have any of the Latin percussion instruments to practice on. He watched innumerable movies, picked up the beat in his head and then practiced the same on the table and tin pots of his house.

He got his first instrument when he joined Azam Khan on the conga. "I played confidently, even though it was the first time in my life," reminisces Hablu. "My competitor was the water pump in our flat. I would try to keep up with the rhythm of the water pump which helped me increase my speed."

Hablu has worked with some of the best names in the national as well as international arena. He was Runa Laila's personal percussionist for 22 years and has travelled to over 40 countries. He has performed in places like the Royal Albert Hall (Britain), Shane Auditorium (where the Oscars are held in Los Angeles) and Lincoln Centre. He has played with Junoon, Zakir Hussain, Remo Fernandez and many other international artistes.

Explains this multi-talented instrumentalist, "I play my best when I have the right singers and fellow instrumentalists around me. I am nothing on my own unless I have their support."

Hablu believes music is a spiritual matter. There is a direct relation between Allah and music. "One is born with talent and can not acquire it" and hence he feels that artists should not be proud or snobbish for what Allah has especially bestowed upon them. Rather they should just be thankful to him.

Hablu is also one of the country's best music directors. While he has composed music for many movies and serials he modestly talks about others who have contributed in this field. "In our country we have had many great talents like Feroza Begum, Ferdousi Rahman, Abdul Jabbar, Shahnaz Rahmatullah, Runa Laila, James, Happy Akhand, Lucky Akhand, Ayub Bachchu and Nakib Khan. They are the real talents of our country," he maintains.

While there are many young talented singers and musicians in the country, Hablu surmises that, somehow these young talents fall into the trap of the over commercialisation of the music industry. The youngsters want to reach the top without hard work. He feels that that leads to cheap fame. "To be talented is a rare gift and you have to work hard to stay at the top," says Hablu.

Kazi Hablu currently hosts a show on BTV. Titled Prothom Ontara, the show features old and contemporary songs. The show is aired every third Sunday of the month, at 10:30 pm.