Munni Begum
Munni Begum is a famous Pakistani ghazal singer, But born in India. Her real name is Nadira. She is American National ,based in Chicago, IL, USA. Munni Begum was born in Murshidabad, West Bengal, India. The youngest child of seven children, she first started taking music lessons from the famous singer Ustad Khwaja Ghulam Mustafa Warsi. Subsequently, she studied in the school of music for three years and thereafter she launched her career. Her parents migrated from India to East Pakistan in the early 1950s; East Pakistan later became independent Bangladesh. She studied in PAF Shaheen School, Dhaka, however she moved to Pakistan before graduating from high school, due to Bangladesh Independence War of 1971. Career Munni Begum began career as a singer in Karachi in 1970s. Begum released her first album of ghazals in 1976. It became a smash hit and broke all previous records. On March 23, 2008 Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ibad Khan has conferred the Pride of Performance award upon legendary female singer Munni Begum at a simple ceremony held at Governor's House in Karachi.[3] Personal life Munni Begum is married and has 2 daughters, Muniba Hasnain and Minara Umer, and a son Syed Asad Ali. Notable ghazals As for Begum’s hit ghazals, the list is nearly endless - listen to Munni Begum's famous ghazals online. Some of these are: Jhoom barabar jhoom sharabi Har qadam zehmatein… Tumhare sheher ka mausam bada suhana lage… Ek Bar Muskura Do Awaargi Mein Had Se Guzar Jaana Chahiye Dil Ko Hale Karar Mein Dekha Idhar zindagi ka janaza uthe ga bhujhi hoi shama ka dhuaan hun Mareez e mohabbat unhi ka fasana Discography Munni Begum Khoobsurat Ghazlein Vol 1 Awagi Vol-28vfdg Meri Pasand Vol. 1 Meri Pasand Vol. 2 Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 1 Masti Mein Surahi Jhoomti Hai Vol. 2 New Ghazals Vol. 26 Munni Begum Vol-21 Munni Begum Vol-20 Sham-E-Ghazal Meri Pasand Munni Begum Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 4 Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 3 Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 2 Munni Begum In Concert Vol. 1
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Munni Begum - Ghazal singer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Taufiq Qureshi - A Percussionist
Taufiq Qureshi (born 1955) is an Indian classical musician. He is a percussionist and a composer.
Son of legendary tabla player, Ustad Alla Rakha and younger brother of the Great Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Born in a family where tabla was the bread and butter, there were these two pillars, his father Ustad Allarakha and brother Ustad Zakir Hussain, who were always there guiding and getting him ready for the world of rhythm. Since the time he started playing on stage and rhythm-programming in studios, he always wanted to work on exploring wider prospects of world rhythm through composing, music production and the ever inspiring world of live performances. With Zakirbhai's inspirational support, his parents’ blessings and his wife Geetika’s support and understanding push he plunged into the exquisite, exotic and exciting world of rhythm
Career
Taufiq Quereshi started his career early. His stint with live performances began with the creation of his own world music band, ‘Surya’ way back in 1986-87. He has been featured as a performing artiste on the 2009- Grammy award winning album Global Drum Project, Remember Shakti, Masters of Percussions and Summi. He collaborates with various classical artists for fusion concerts. He plays a variety of percussion instruments like djembe, duff, bongos, batajon. His performance on drums with a soft beat of a muffled drum and the very next moment ups the tempo and demonstration of different sounds - like breath, rhythm, breaking a champagne bottle, the sound of the train and the arrival of people, horses and others on arrival at the palace on the drums are quite popular Discography
Rhydhun (2000) Swar Utsav - Streams In Confluence (2001) Rhydhun Gold (2002) Mondo Beat - Masters of Percussion India The Greatest Songs Ever Taalisma (2002) Colours of Rajasthan (1995) PercJam (2003) Bombay Fever (2006) Mystic Soundscapes - Forest (2007) Rooh - Songs From The Heart (2007)
Friday, March 1, 2013
Dhondutai Kulkarni - The last living icon of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana
Dhondutai Kulkarni, (born 23 July 1927) is perhaps the last living icon of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. The legendary Alladiya Khan, who founded the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, made this Gharana unique by its full-throated singing, its complicated Taans, and its vast repertoire of Raags, which Dhondutai Kulkarni represents very well.
Early life
She was born in a Brahmin family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. Dhondutai's father initiated her into music. From him she became an AIR performing artiste at the age of eight. She then started training under Bhurji Khan, whose father, Alladiya Khan, had a special care for Dhondutai, and it was not uncommon to find her sitting next to the legendary performer at music festivals. Her training continued under the mentorship of Laxmibai Jadhav and Ustad Azizuddin Khan, grandson of the legendary Alladiya Khan. From Ut. Azizuddin Khan she received most of her repertoire of rare Ragas. Thereafter, she spent a long number of years under the immensely distinguished knowledge of Kesarbai Kerkar, ending up as her sole disciple.
Repertoire
Her incredible repertoire of ragas sees to it that she rarely repeats a raga at two consecutive concerts. Dhondutai knows specialty Raag creations made not just by Alladiya Khan but also Kesarbai Kerkar. At 86, Dhondutai is saluted not just for her musical contributions, but also for her quality as a performing artist.
Awards and recognition
Dhondutai has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990. She also has been invited to the "Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Sammelan" since its beginnings, she sings last at the concert.
Books
Namita Devidayal's book "The Music Room" chronicles a significant part of Dhondutai's life, music and career. Namita is one of Dhondutai's students and learned from her over a period of 25 years. The book talks about the life and music of Alladiya Khan, Kesarbai Kerkar and Dhondutai.
Dhondutai Kulkarni - National Programme
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Trilok Gurtu - Indian percussionist
Early life
Gurtu was born to Hindu Brahmin parents in Mumbai, and attended Don Bosco High School (Matunga) in Mumbai. His mother, singer Shobha Gurtu, encouraged him to learn playing tabla, and he studied playing the instrument under Shah Abdul Karim.Career
Gurtu began playing western drum kit in the 1970s, and developed interest in jazz. In a 1995 television special on Jimi Hendrix, Gurtu mentioned having initially learned Western music without awareness of overdubbing, which, he said, forced him to learn multiple parts which most musicians would have never attempted. In the 1970s, he played with Charlie Mariano, John Tchicai, Terje Rypdal, and Don Cherry. One of Gurtu's earliest recordings was around 1977 in the record Apo-Calypso in an album of the German ethnic fusion band, Embryo. His mother also sang in that record, and later joined him in his first solo CD, Usfret. In the 1980s, Gurtu played with Swiss drummer Charly Antolini and with John McLaughlin in McLaughlin's trio, accompanied variously by bassists Jonas Hellborg, Kai Eckhardt, and Dominique DiPiazza. The line-up with Hellborg performed at least one concert opening for Miles Davis in Berkeley, California in 1988. Collaboration between Gurtu and McLaughlin included vocal improvisations using the Indian tala talk method of oral drumming notations for teaching drum patterns. Sometimes, Eckhardt would join in with hip-hop beat-box vocals for a three-way vocal percussion jam, while Gurtu and McLaughlin would throw in a few amusing words such as some Japanese brand names mixed with some Indian words. Some of the unusual aspects of Gurtu's drum playing include playing, without a drum stool, in a half-kneeling position on the floor, and use of an unconventional kick drum that resembles a large drum head with a kick-pedal, and a mix of tablas and western drums. Gurtu's unique percussion signature involves dipping cymbals and strings of shells into a bucket of water to create a shimmering effect. Gurtu joined Oregon after the death of drummer Collin Walcott. He played in three records produced by this band: Ecotopia (1987), 45th Parallel (1989), and Always, Never and Forever (1991). In the early 1990s Gurtu resumed his career as a solo artist and a bandleader. Various noted musicians have backed him in a number of his CD releases.[2] In 1999, Zakir Hussain and Bill Laswell founded a musical group, Tabla Beat Science, which played a mixture of Hindustani music, Asian underground, ambient, Drum and Bass, and Electronica. Gurtu joined this group along with Karsh Kale and Talvin Singh. The group released three albums before going dormant in late 2003.[3] In 2004, Gurtu created an album, Miles Gurtu, with Robert Miles. His collaboration with the Arkè String Quartet began in 2007 with the release of the album Arkeology.[1] In 2010 Trilok Gurtu played into the album Piano Car, opera of minimalist composer Stefano Ianne with Ricky Portera, Nick Beggs (Kajagoogoo), Mario Marzi, Terl Bryant (John Paul Jones/Led Zeppelin), John De Leo.Awards
Gurtu has garnered a number of prestigious awards and nominations, including: Best Overall Percussionist winner, DRUM! Magazine, 1999 Best Overall Percussionist winner, Carlton Television Multicultural Music Awards, 2001 Best Percussionist winner, Down Beat's Critics Poll for 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999,[4] 2000, 2001, and 2002[5] Best Asia/Pacific Artist nominee, BBC Radio 3 World for 2002, 2003, and 2004.[1][3]Discography
Solo and collaborative albums1974: La Terra (The Earth) LP with Aktuala (Bla Bla, 1974)
1976: Tappeto Volante (Flying Carpet) with Aktuala LP (Bla Bla, 1976)
1977: Apo Calypso - with Embryo
1979: Friends - with Toto Blanke Electric Circus
1980: Family - with Toto Blanke Electric Circus
1982: Personal Note, Mark Nauseef with Joachim Kühn, Jan Akkerman, Detlev Beier
1983: Finale - with Charly Antolini
1985: Song for Everyone - with L. Shankar
1987: Usfret
1987: Ecotopia - with Oregon
1989: 45th Parallel - with Oregon
1990: Live At The Royal Festival Hall - with the John McLaughlin Trio
1990: Living Magic
1991: Always, Never and Forever - with Oregon
1992: Que Alegria - with the John McLaughlin Trio
1993: Crazy Saints
1995: Believe
1995: Bad Habits Die Hard
1997: The Glimpse
1998: Kathak
1998: Cor - with Maria João & Mário Laginha
2000: African Fantasy
2001: The Beat of Love
2002: Remembrance
2004: Miles Gurtu - with Robert Miles
2004: Broken Rhythms
2006: Farakala
2007: Arkeology
2009: Massical
2010: Piano Car - with Stefano Ianne
2011: 21 Spices - with Simon Phillips + NDR Big Band (Conducted by Jorg Achim Keller)
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Pt Ravi Shankar: A global ambassador of Indian music
Labelled the 'godfather' of world music, Ravi Shankar undertook an extraordinary journey from the banks of Ganges to the heart of the west mesmerising them with Indian ragas and partnering with musical greats like Beatles' George Harrison and Yehudi Menuhin. Darling of the hippie movement in the 1960s, Shankar trained for seven years under Ustad Allauddin Khan and was known for his characteristic sitar sound with powerful bass notes. Shankar, 92, whose health had been fragile for the past several years, died today at the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California after undergoing heart-valve replacement surgery on Thursday. The Bharat Ratna awardee started as a dancer with the group of his brother Uday Shankar but gave it up in 1938 to learn sitar under Allauddin Khan. During the tour of Uday's dance group in Europe and America in the early to mid-1930s, Shankar discovered Western classical music, jazz, and cinema, and became acquainted with Western customs. The music doyen composed his first raga in 1945 and embarked on a prolific recording career. In the 1950s and 1960s, he became the unofficial international ambassador for Indian music, enthralling audiences in the USSR, Japan, North America. However, it was his association with Harisson that got him international stardom. In the 1970s, they collaborated on two albums and toured the USA together. A Bengali Brahmin, Shankar was born Robindra Shankar on April 7, 1920 in Varanasi, the youngest of four brothers, and spent his first 10 years in relative poverty, brought up by his mother. He was almost eight before he met his father, a globe-trotting lawyer, philosopher, writer and former minister to the Maharajah of Jhalawar. As a performer, composer and teacher, Shankar was an Indian classical artist of the highest rank, and he spearheaded the worldwide spread of Indian music and culture, said writer and editor Oliver Craske, who provided additional narrative for Shankar's autobiography 'Raga Mala'. Through his influence on Harrison, and appearances at the Monterey and Woodstock festivals and the Concert for Bangladesh, he became a household name in the West, the first Indian musician to do so. Shankar also composed for ballets and films in India, Canada, Europe and the United States. He created music for the 'Apu Trilogy' by Satyajit Ray. Credited with incorporating many aspects of Carnatic music in the north Indian classical system, Shankar was music director of All India Radio, New Delhi, from 1949 to 1956. A three-time Grammy award winner, Shankar last performed in California on November 4 along with his daughter Anoushka Shankar. Shankar has also been nominated for the 2013 Grammys for his album "The Living Room Sessions Part-1" and was pitted against Anoushka in the same category. He was awarded the three top Indian national civil honours - Padma Bhushan in 1967, Padma Vibhushan in 1981, and Bharat Ratna in 1999. Shankar befriended Richard Bock, founder of World Pacific Records, on his first American tour and recorded most of his albums in the 1950s and 1960s for Bock's label. The Byrds recorded at the same studio and heard Shankar's music, which led them to incorporate some of its elements in theirs, introducing the genre to Harrison. The sitar legend authored violin-sitar compositions for Yehudi Menuhin and himself, music for flute virtuoso Jean Pierre Rampal, music for Hosan Yamamoto, master of the Shakuhachi and Musumi Miyashita - Koto virtuoso, and has collaborated with Phillip Glass (Passages). A Magsaysay award winner, Shankar was nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1986. Believing in the greatness of Indian classical music and blessed with charisma and intelligence, he pursued a dream of taking Indian music out to the Western world.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav to be held for six days
The 60th edition of the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav, a festival of classical music organized every year by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal, will be held for six days this year to mark the diamond jubilee of the prestigious music fest. The festival will be held between December 11 and 16 at the New English School, Ramanbaug grounds. Kirana Gharana maestro, late Pt Bhimsen Joshi, had started the festival in the memory of his guru Sawai Gandharva and was initially known as the 'Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav'. The festival was renamed the 'Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav' last year after the demise of Pt Joshi. "The Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal has decided to hold the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav for six days this year in order to commemorate the 60th year of the festival. Last year the festival was held for five days, while in 2010 it went on for four days," said Shriniwas Joshi, executive president, Arya Sangeet Prasarak Mandal. Schedule: 11-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Shri. Ashwini & Shri. Sanjiv Shankar Shahanai Smt. Meena Faterpekar Vocal Smt. Padma Deshpande Vocal Shri. Rahul Sharma Santoor Pt. Jasraj Vocal 12-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Shri. Rattan Mohan Sharma Vocal Ayaan Ali Khan & Amaan Ali Khan Sarod Smt. Shobana Chandrakumar Dance (Bharatnatyum) Pt. Rajan & Pt. Sajan Mishra & Ritesh & Rajnish Mishra Vocal 13-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Shri. Sanjeev Chimmalgi Vocal Smt. Kalapini Komkali Vocal Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar & Shri. Sameehan Kashalkar Vocal Farooque Latif Khan & Sarwar Hussain Pakhawaj & Sarangi 14-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Smt. Pallavi Pote Vocal Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia Basuri Shri. Anand Bhate Vocal Smt. Malini Rajurkar Vocal 15-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Shri. Samrat Pandit Vocal Smt. Arati Ankalikar Vocal Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri Tabla Shri. Shrinivas Joshi Vocal Ut. Amjad Ali Khan Sarood 16-Dec-2012 Artist Name Performing Smt. Kalpana Zokarkar Vocal Shri. Vijay Koparkar Vocal Pt. Shivkumar Sharma Santoor Apoorva Gokhale & Pallavi Joshi Vocal Shri. Shounak Abhisheki Vocal Shri. Upendra Bhat Vocal Shri. Atulkumar Upadhye & Ut. Shahid Parvez Voilin & Satar Shri. Parmeshwar Hegade Vocal Dr. Prabha Atre Vocal
Monday, September 10, 2012
Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote
Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote
Pandit Manohar Vasudev Chimote veteran harmonium and Samvadini player who contributed towards Hindustani classical music.
Chimote was awarded with Maharashtra government award for excellence in the field of music.
Born in a rich family at Nagpur on March 27,1928, he learnt harmonium from Pandit Bhishmadev Vediji and migrated to Mumbai to contribute towards Indian classical music.
He was awarded by Maharashtra government for excellence in the field of music in the year 1998. He was also awarded by ITC for research in the field of music and Uttam Sangeet Shikshak Puraskar, 1995 by Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Pune.
Pandit Manohar Chimote was famous for jugal bandi on his researched instrument Samvadhini with various artists.
He had accompanied popular Indian tabla player Ustad Allah Rakha Khan, famous flute Pandit Ronu Majumdar , Hindustani violinist Shridhar Parsekar and harmonium player Shree Govindrao Patwardhan in a number of concerts all over India.
"Pandit Chimote made changes in the keyboard of the harmonium so that pressure control on the keyboard along with the air pressure in the bellows would display subtle expressions to the music being played on Harmonium. Along with Pandit Bhishmadev Vediji and Acharya Brihaspatiji, he worked on the tuning of this instrument and introduced the concept of 'gandhar-based tuning' for the first time in Harmonium.
This tuning system is the original tuning system used in traditional Indian classical music. With this change Harmonium became a complete instrument for solo performances with equal capability as any other instrument.
"He believed 'Harmony' means 'samvad' in sanskrit an thus, an instrument which is capable of creating harmony must be called 'samvadini'. Since then this instrument is called samvadini" said Rajendra Vaisampayan, a samvadini (Harmonium) soloist and disciple of Pt Manohar Chimote.
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