Pt. Keshab Kanti Chowdhury

His father was a Vocalist and his Grandfather was a Pakhawaj (percussion) player. Born in a family of musicians he started learning Vocal and Srikhol (percussion) from his father at an early age and then at the age of 12 he started learning Tabla under the guidance of Guru Pt. Milan Chetri (disciple of well-known Tabla maestro Ustad Afaque Hussain Khan of Lucknow Gharana and Pt. Rangnath Mishra of

Beneras Gharana. Later, Keshab also became disciple of the great Tabla wizard Ustad Chamma Khan of Delhi Gharana - the foremost and finest school of Tabla. He has received guidance from Mridangacharya Pt. Ram Kishore Das and Sarode maestro Pt. Sunil Mukherjee. He learnt Spanish, Latin, African and Arabian drums in Moscow (Russia) and in Spain.

Pt. Keshab Chowdhury has played with the most distinguished musicians of the country such as Pt. Gopal Krishna, Vidushi Sisirkona Dhar Choudhury, Padmabhushan Pt. Debu chowdhury, Padmabhushan Pt. Rajan Sajan Mishra, Padmashri Vidushi Rita Ganguly, Pt. Singh Bandhu, Ustad Hafiz Ahmad Khan, Pt. Mani Prasad, Pt. L.K. Pandit and many others. He has performed at the welcome reception of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of U.K at PM’s house with Sitar maestro Pt. Partha Das in 1992. He is empanelled in ICCR’s Reference Panel of Artistes. He was deputed in Embassy of India’s Cultural Department in Moscow, Russia by ICCR during 1997-2000. He led the ICCR

sponsored “Percussion Troupe” to perform at the international music festivals in Moscow (Russia), Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Iran in 2004.

He is also attached to All India Radio & TV network, New Delhi and has participated many National Programs including Radio Sangeet Sammelan in 1995. He has played with Padmashree Ustad Shafat Ahmed Khan at ‘Taal Tarang” program organized in Delhi by Sahitya Kala Parishad in 1996. He has also performed under the aegis of North Zone Cultural Center, Nadmandal, Delhi Tabla Vikas Parishad, PSK, India Habitat Center, IIC etc.

He has participated in various international music festivals organized under the aegis of ICCR, UNO, UNESCO, Moscow State Conservatoire, ISKCON, Boheme Jazz, Minsk Jazz Festival in Belarus, The Riga Oriental Music Center-Latvia etc. He has experimented the fusion of Indian drumming with world musicians from Russia, Europe, Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan etc.), Middle-East countries (Arab, Syria, Iran), American and African Jazz, Japan, Spain, Afghanistan, Brazil etc.

He has given many TV programs at Russian Channels such as REN-TV, NTV, ORT etc. NTV has produced a film on his biography under the series of “Archeology of Sound” and has shown in their channels in Middle-East and European countries. On his big success and popularity Tabla was even introduced as the first Indian percussion instrument at Moscow State Conservatory and he worked there as an instructor during the period 1997-2000.

Pt. Keshab Chowdhury had the opportunity to work in Russia on invitation from Ministry of Culture, Russian Federation during 2000-2002. Using music as a medium, he united different musicians of diverse cultures such as Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Middle-East countries etc. and presented many incomparable concerts under one umbrella which had an impact on cultural symbiosis between East and West.

He was invited by Neopercusion School, Madrid, Spain for imparting teaching and performances at their international percussion festival “RITMO VITAL 2002”. During 2003, he performed with Moroccan ensemble “Al Jarab” in Granada (Spain), Escuela de musica y danza de la India at Sala Caracol Madrid (Spain). He has played with David Penia Dorantes at the “Bienal de Flamenco” festival in Sevila, 2004, which is one of the most important flamenco events in the world. He has been instrumental in setting up

Indo-Spanish Music School in Sevilla (Spain) in 2003 to provide education in music and he worked as a Musical Director for the school during 2003-2005. For this purpose he was granted a residence permit to reside in Spain. He has many students from different countries like Russia, U.S.A, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Estonia to whom he imparts the knowledge of percussion instruments. He has worked for many CDs viz. Once Upon A Time In The City Of Kazan, Splashes, Eastern Cultural Bazar, Joy of Music etc.