Here are some pic's:
Anindo Chatterjee is recognized as one of India's most eminent tabla
players. He was inspired to take up tabla by his uncle, the sitar player
Pandit Biswanath Chatterjee, when he was just four years old. At five
he was All India Radio's youngest artist. At six Anindo became a disciple
of Padmabhushan Gyan Prakash Ghosh and studied with him for well over thirty
years, some of which ran simultaneously with his extensive international
concert career. Gyan Prakash Ghosh was well known for his extensive knowledge
of all tabla gharanas, as well as his own Farukhabad gharana
furthering this Anindo also studied the Lucknow Tabla gharana with
Ustad Ahfaq Hussain Khan.
Anindo has a seemingly endless list of achievments: In 1990 he became the
first tabla player to perform in the House of Commons. In 2003 the
President of India crowned him with the prestigious sangeet natak akademi
award. The All India Critics Association adjudged him as the ‘Best
Performer of the Year 1997’ and at the tender age of 16, The Government
of India recognized his prodigious talent by awarding him the ‘gold
medal’ in the All India Radio Music Competition.
Anindo has carved out a niche for himself for his tabla solos for which
he is one of the most popular and in-demand performers. He has achieved
the most aesthetically satisfying combination of tradition and innovation. As
an accompanist, he is known for his sense of balance and proportion,
crisp tonal quality, modulation of sound production and rapport with
soloists. Anindo has accompanied all of the top musicians and has toured
with them all over the world. Anindo enjoyed a long international
touring career with Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. His ability to seamlessly
blend in with the musician he is accompanying has brought him to share the
stage with Pandit. Ravi Shankar, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan,Ustad Vilayat Khan,Ustad
Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
to name only those who are the pillars on which Indian Classical Music today
rests.
Anindo’s ability to weave the most intricate textures
with tabla bols and to remain uncompromising with crispness and clarity at
virtually and speed has seen him adding new dimensions to his instrument. He
is a trendsetter for many generations to follow.
Here is an interview:
Widely considered one of the greatest table maestros, Pandit Anindo
Chatterjee has helped spread Indian classical music across the world.
After receiving first place in the All India Children’s Music
Competition at the young age of 6, he was accepted as a student by the
esteemed judge, Guru Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. His tabla solo debut
was at age 10. He has since developed into one of the most
well-respected tabla solo performers of his generation.
The Indian Music Society of Minnesota presented a spectacular tabla
solo recital by Pandit Anindo along with Vikas Falnikar (Harmonium
accompaniment) in Minneapolis. Over 100 people attended the event. In
the concert Chatterjee presented an extended solo in the rhythmic
cycle of 16 beats (Teen Taal) and played a Variety of compositions such
as Peshkar, Kayda, Rela, Chalan, Gat, Tukda, Paran and Laggi.
After the concert, Chatterjee spoke to us in an interview:
Pooja Garg: I know you are from Lucknow Gharana. Could you please tell us more about it?
Anindo Chatterjee: The Lucknow Gharana is famous for the kirar, riral and tukra. It is old and traditional.
PG: What types of subjects do you most enjoy researching?
AC: I only research the tabla, but have the knowledge of the sitar and
vocals as well otherwise you cannot be a good accompanist.
PG: What types of subjects do you teach in your classes?
AC: Students from India , America, and Europe come and learn from me
for two to three months. I guide them, give them lessons and give them
materials for the next seven to eights months. The locals come and
learn from me weekly.
PG: How does it feel when you students get nationally and international attention?
AC: I especially appreciate my foreign students as they are so
dedicated and love of the rhythm of the table. They like to research
the logic and style of the tabla which I would like to spread to all of
my students. Some students that I would recognize are Erin Hansen (My
agent) Ravi ( Toronto ), Dexter (Trinidad), Tony ( Florida ) and
Anubrata, my son who also teaches tabla here in the USA .
PG: What should we do to keep classical music alive over rap, pop, and other music?
AC: I convince rock musicians to fuse with the tabla as the rhythm in
music is universal. I respect the mix of rock music and fusion, but
only if it is done in a nice way and systematically. Not with 2 or 3
people just doing things with no system.
PG: Do you prefer playing solo or accompanying tabla?
AC: I like playing solo, but I also accompany others by my vocals,
instrumentally and dancing as well. So I would say I prefer both.
PG: What are some of your upcoming releases?
AC: I have so many records and albums on YouTube so you should watch
and research them. I have no upcoming releases, but do release albums
when I am inspired to do so.
