My training in tabla began at the age of twelve with Shri Paramjit Singh of the Panjab Gharana. As soon as I was deemed old enough, I began to go to the home of his guru, Shri Pavan Kumar Verma, for lessons. During this time, I also visited and learnt from the eldest guru of that lineage, Ustad Lakshman Singh Seen of Jalandhar.

Serious taleem (education) began when I moved to New Delhi four years later. I was accepted as a ganda-bandha shagird (disciple) of Ustad Chhamma Khan of the Dilli gharana. I also took lessons with his illustrious son, Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan.

In the winter of 2005, I went to Benares to learn layakari (rhythm-work) from Pandit Kishen Maharaj of the Benaras gharana.

PERCUSSION

I play darbouka, djembe, cajon, didgeridoo, udu, bongos, framedrum and the Iranian def. Together with tabla, these seven percussion instruments form my major repertoire.

Around these principal drums are the other percussion and ambient instruments that I play, like the Australian Xyladrum & Wazinator, the Native American Spring and Ocean drums, the Ojibway native flute, the Slovakian fujara, the Tibetan Nga and others.

When performing solo in a show called Stories through Sound, I play world instruments and percussion over soundscapes created live. I use my own mics, cables, stands, clamps and mixer to evolve the best sound.

I also play Stories through Sound over electronic tracks. Various styles of music-latin, minimal, dance, tribal etc, are part of the show.
 

TRAVELS IN TIME