Indian tabla player
Musical artist
Amit Kavthekar (Marathi : अमित कवठेकर ; born 11 August 1984) is an Indian tabla player known as the last ganda-bandhan (ordained disciple) of Utd. Allarakha Khansaheb and a prominent disciple of Utd. Zakir Hussain .[ 1] Kavthekar is regarded as one of the leading young artists of Indian Classical music and tabla.[ 2]
Background
Kavthekar was born and raised in the Shivaji Park neighborhood of Mumbai to a Deshastha Brahmin family. His father is acclaimed rangoli artist Suhas Kavthekar.[ 3] He attended Balmohan Vidyamandir in Dadar , and graduated from Ruparel College .
Musical training
Regarded as a child prodigy, Kavthekar (aged 6) was brought before Ustad Alla Rakha for consideration as a disciple.[ 4] At age 11, he became a ganda-bandhan (ordained) disciple of Allarakha in a ceremony attended by Pt. Bhai Gaitonde , Pt. Suresh Talwalkar , Taufiq Qureshi , and Aditya Kalyanpur .[ 5] After Khansaheb's death in 2000, Kavthekar continued his training exclusively with Utd. Zakir Hussain, though he had been learning with him since age 7.[ 6] He has also studied the nuances of tabla with Deepak Nerurkar and Pt. Sudhir Mainkar.[ 7]
Aesthetics
Kavthekar's playing style is based on the Punjab baaj with influences from Delhi baaj and contemporary tabla players, particularly Zakir Hussain. His style is regarded as sensitive.[ 8]
Career
Kavthekar's performing career began in the early-2000s in Mumbai. He performed alongside Zakir Hussain and Sivamani for Zee TV on Indian television . He also appeared in Jabbar Patel's documentary about Pt. Shivkumar Sharma , accompanying the maestro in concert.[ 9]
As an accompanist, Kavthekar has performed with prominent musicians like Ravi Chary,[ 10] Ronu Majumdar ,[ 11] Shahid Parvez ,[ 12] [ 13] Amjad Ali Khan ,[ 14] [ 15] Pandit Jasraj , and Lata Mangeshkar .[ 16] He has also performed with Shahid Parvez at the Berklee College of Music , Utd. Aashish Khan at LearnQuest Academy of Music's Annual Conference at Regis College , Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta , Pt. Kushal Das at the MIT's Wong Auditorium , Smt. Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande ,[ 17] and Ken Zuckerman [ 18] among others.[ 19]
As an ensemble player, Kavthekar has played in jazz and fusion groups in the United States and India.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22] He has also played in Chicago's World Music Festival with Josh Feinberg and Kunal Gunjal.[ 23] [ 24] [ 25] [ 26] [ 27] Since 2019, he has performed in the ensemble quartet Purna Loka with Purnaprajna Bangere, Jeff Harshbarger, and David Balakrishnan.[ 28] [ 29] [ 30] [ 31]
In 2018, he accompanied Amjad Ali Khan , Ayaan Ali Bangash , and Amaan Ali Bangash at the UN Day concert in New York City,[ 32] before the General Assembly , in honor of Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.[ 33]
Kavthekar performed in 2020 at the Dorchester's Ashmont Hill Chamber Music series, in a program that combined Western and Indian classical music, that was reviewed by The Boston Globe .[ 34]
Beginning in 2021, Kavthekar began touring with guitarist Al Di Meola .[ 35] [ 36]
In 2022, Kavthekar made his debut at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav , accompanying Amjad Ali Khan with Anubrata Chatterjee .[ 37] [ 38] [ 39]
In 2022, Kavthekar made his debut at the prestigious Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan , accompanying Anupama Bhagwat .[ 40]
Teaching
Kavthekar has given musical lectures around the world and is currently a visiting professor at Salem State University .[ 41] After settling in Boston , Kavthekar became leading faculty of the New England School of Music (NESOM) where he actively teaches tabla to dozens of students.[ 42] He also teaches tabla at the American School of Bombay .[ 43] Among his disciples includes the prodigy, Keshava.[ 44]
Awards and recognition
Kavthekar was awarded the Taal–Mani by Sur Singar Samiti in Mumbai.[ 45]
References
^ Venkatraman, Deepika (28 March 2017). "Rhythm Divine" .
^ Kapoor, Nivedita (11 July 2011). "Straight from the art" .
^ Kavthekar, Amit (27 October 2011). "Rangoli Portraits" .
^ "Meet Amit Kavthekar of New England School of Music – Boston Voyager Magazine | Boston City Guide" . 12 June 2018.
^ Kavthekar, Amit (27 October 2011). "My Ganda Bandhan- Gurupurnima- Ustad Allarakha Khansaheb (Abbaji)" .
^ "World-Jazz Ensemble Natraj and Amit Kavthekar, Internationally-Renowned Tabla Player, to Perform Benefit Concert for Worcester Homeless Shelter" .
^ "Playing for the Planet: World Music Against Climate Change « Running Gamak: Warren Senders' Blog" .
^ Venkatraman, Deepa (28 March 2017). "Rhythm divine" . The Hindu .
^ "HOME" .
^ "The TimeOut Mint Planner, 23 August 2013" . 22 August 2013.
^ "New group bringing Indian classical music greats to Lexington" .
^ "Shahid Parvez Khan, Sitar Concert with Amit Kavthekar, tabla - Destination Salem" . Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018 .
^ "Ahmedabad News – Latest & Br" .
^ "Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan to perform in New York on Nov. 3" . 27 October 2018.
^ "Indian Sarod Master Performs at Wesleyan's 43rd Annual Navaratri Festival" .
^ "Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash Performance | BAE" .
^ Kavthekar, Amit (4 April 2014). "Ashwini Bhide Performs in Salem on Monday - Articles - Arts & Entertainment" . [permanent dead link ]
^ "Modal Improvisation Clinic with Ken Zuckerman and Amit Kavthekar" . Berklee College of Music .
^ "Singing in the rain - Mumbai Mirror" . Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2020 .
^ "Critic's picks: From Newport to Rockport to points between, the best in jazz" . The Boston Globe . 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018 .
^ "Music of India" .
^ "Professor pushes boundaries of music through his math" . 17 October 2018.
^ "The Reader's guide to World Music Festival Chicago 2019" . 10 September 2019.
^ "2019 World Music Festival Chicago music lineup announced - ABC7 Chicago" . 25 July 2019.
^ "Shadaj Presents "East Meets West" Music Concert on Sept. 27th in Lexington, MA - INDIA New England News" . Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020 .
^ "Music of India" .
^ "World Music Festival lineup boasts Ragamala and Pan Latin Music celebrations, Global Peace Picnic, and more" . 25 July 2019.
^ "Math unlocks a musician's mind" . 10 February 2020.
^ "Geometry sings the blues in Indian-American mathematicians radical new music system" .
^ "Indian American Math Professor Purnaprajna Bangere is Building Bridges Between Music and Math | Global | indiawest.com" . Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2020 .
^ "Bach and North Indian music make a fine pair - the Boston Globe" . The Boston Globe .
^ "Amjad Ali Khan's concert on 'peace, non-violence' tribute to Gandhi: Guterres - INDIA New England News" . Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018 .
^ "Amjad Ali Khan's Concert a Tribute to Gandhi: Antonio Guterres - Sentinelassam" . 26 October 2018.
^ "Bach and North Indian music make a fine pair" . The Boston Globe . 10 February 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2023 .
^ "The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph" . 12 July 2022.
^ "Al di Meola at Blue Note NYC (A Gallery)" . 7 September 2021.
^ "Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Rain Raag | Sarod & double Tabla | Pune | Sawai Gandharv Mahotsav 2022 |" . YouTube .
^ "Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs during the Inaugural day of 68th Sawai Gandharv Bhimsan Mahotsav" . YouTube .
^ "After 2-year hiatus, capacity crowd on Day 1 as old-timers, youngsters throng Sawai Gandharva music festival" . 15 December 2022.
^ https://www.harivallabh.org/programme.php
^ "ABOUT" .
^ "NESOM ABOUT" . New England School of Music .
^ "NESOM" . Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018 .
^ "Pancham Nishad presents a tribute to Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan" .
^ "LearnQuest Classical Music Conference" . LearnQuest Academy of Music . Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2015 .