Pandit Nayan Ghosh
The only maestro known for his magnificent command over two different instruments, the sitar and the tabla, Pandit Nayan Ghosh’s excellence and elegance is class apart.
Born in 1956, Pandit Nayan Ghosh received comprehensive training in tabla, sitar and vocal music from his father, illustrious tabla maestro Padmabhushan Pandit Nikhil Ghosh. He was also fortunate to receive invaluable guidance from Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa, considered the ‘Mount Everest of Tabla’ who was Guru to his father. Nayan Ji’s elder uncle was the legendary Pandit Pannalal Ghose, The ‘Father of North Indian Classical Flute’. His family’s musical heritage was a significant influence on Nayan Ji. Since the 1990s, he has also received guidance in Sitar from Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, the distinguished Sarod maestro.
Pandit Nayan Ji’s deep-seated artistry and soul-stirring musical dexterity are the hallmarks of his performances. His repertoire of compositions and his brilliance have earned him the due respect of musicians and connoisseurs alike.
Nayan Ji has travelled across the globe, performing Sitar and Tabla concerts over the last four decades. He has performed at prestigious music festivals and received high acclaim. Pandit Nayan Ghosh has also conducted several masterclasses, delivered lectures and taught at prestigious Emory University, Atlanta, Kent State University, Cleveland, University of Washington, Seattle, the University of Colorado in Boulder, and The Lausanne Conservatory, Switzerland, to name a few.
Pandit Nayan Ghosh’s authoritative yet traditional Tabla style is uniquely visible through his solo performances. His expressive accompaniments to stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma and many other illustrious maestros have been memorable.
Pandit Nayan Ji’s collaborations with global musicians like Paul Grant (Switzerland), John Bailey (United Kingdom), Ross Daly (Greece), Hu-Ling (China), Bijan Chemirani (Iran) and Jazz titans Kazumi Watanabe and Yosuke Yamashita (Japan), Henry Butler and Kidd Jordan (New Orleans) depict his versatility and universal appeal. He was also conferred upon Achievement Award in 1998 at the hands of Gary Davis, the Lt. Governor of California, for his contributions to promoting Indian music in the West.
Pandit Nayan Ghosh presently heads Sangit Mahabharati, one of India’s prestigious music education and research institutions, where he guides discerning young musicians. Pandit Nayan Ji, as a distinguished Guest Professor, also offers training in Sitar, Tabla, Vocal Music and Musicology at IIT, Bombay.
