In sync with taal

His nimble fingers create magic, so hypnotizing and captivating that it has led him to be nominated for the world''s most prestigious award — ''The Grammy Award''! Sandeep Das is unarguably one of the distinguished tabla players of India. He has performed to packed houses all over the world and mesmerised with his intricate and electrifying music.
Enjoying the day in his artistically decorated apartment in Dwarka with medals and trophies adorning the designer showcase, Das recalls that the world of rhythm and percussion fascinated him from the very childhood. Sandeep''s father, a lover of classical music himself, observed his son''s sense of rhythm and initiated him into the art of playing tabla at the tender age of eight. His initial training of one year was done under the tutelage of Shiv Kumar Singh of Patna.
In 1980 Sandeep went to Benaras to become disciple of the legendary Pandit Kishan Maharaj, the doyen of Benaras Gharana. Through sound tutelage, his dexterous fingers move with blinding speed and have acquired a melodic sensitiveness and clarity of strokes. He has indeed proved to be his Guru''s future hope. His forte lies in playing innumerable permutations and combinations of each taal and his ability to digress into solos in gracefully balanced and mellifluous manner.
Sandeep had the privilege of accompanying stalwarts from his very childhood. He has played with Rajan-Sajan Misra and Girija Devi when he was just thirteen. Das now is an accompanist to galaxy of maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit V.G. Jog (violin), Girija Devi, Grammy award winner Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and many others.
Das gives regular performances on different channels of TV and broadcasts from various stations of radio. He has many CDs, video and audiocassettes to his credit. Das also has numerous performances to his credit throughout India and abroad. He has performed at the fiftieth anniversary celebration of India''s independence at the UN, Geneva. Sandeep performed specially for Queen Elizabeth on her India visit in 1997. He also played for the visiting Pakistan president Parvez Musharraf at Agra summit. His playing with world''s best cellist Yo-Yo Ma (winner of 13 Grammies) has been widely appreciated. His composition ‘Tarang'' for Yo-Yo Ma''s project has been super-hit worldwide.
A gold medallist graduate in English honours from BHU, Varanasi, Sandeep was selected for Tata Institute of Management. But Sandeep''s will to study overshadowed his keen desire to focus whole-heartedly on Tabla - a decision he never regretted. Of course, after coming to Delhi in 1991, he had to struggle for 3~4 years, but his sound tutelage, conviction and faith in God kept him going.
In 1997, Sandeep Das along with Shujaat Hussain Khan (vocal and Sitar) and Kayhan Kalhor, an Iranian musician (playing instrument Kemanceh) formed a group named ''Ghazal''. The first CD of the group became hit, and got place in the top 10 US billboard listing. The group got offers for live performances all over the world.
Till now, five CDs have so far been released and all have been hits. The fifth CD released by ECM Records (USA) named The Rain is the recording of live concert of the group held in Berne, Switzerland. Sandeep has been nominated for the Grammy award along with Shujaat Hussain Khan for their world album The Rain. He will be going to Los Angeles for the grand finale next month.
When not busy with tabla''s finest nuances, the doting Das spends time with his two little daughters, Sakshi and Sonakshi. His wife Tripti is an officer with Allahabad Bank. Das was to perform with Shujaat Hussain Khan at Kamani Auditorium yesterday.