Amit Kavthekar

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]

Amit Kavthekar
Background information
Birth nameAmit Suhas Kavthekar
Born (1984-08-11) 11 August 1984
OriginMumbai, Maharashtra, India
GenresHindustani Classical Music, Jazz, Fusion, World Music, Classical Music
Occupation(s)Tabla Maestro
InstrumentsTabla
Years active2003–present
Associated actsZakir Hussain (musician), Shahid Parvez, Aditya Kalyanpur
Websitewww.amitkavthekar.com

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]

Performances

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]

Teaching

Kavthekar has given musical lectures around the world and is currently a visiting professor at Salem State University.[34] 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.[35] He also teaches tabla at the American School of Bombay.[36] Among his disciples includes the prodigy, Keshava.[37]

Awards & Recognition

Kavthekar was awarded the Taal–Mani by Sur Singar Samiti in Mumbai.[38]

References
  1. Venkatraman, Deepika (28 March 2017). "Rhythm Divine".
  2. Kapoor, Nivedita (11 July 2011). "Straight from the art".
  3. Kavthekar, Amit (27 October 2011). "Rangoli Portraits".
  4. http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-amit-kavthekar-new-england-school-music-tabla-instructor-tabla-player-soloist-accompanist-nashua-acton-shrewsbury-wellesley-lexington-billerica/
  5. Kavthekar, Amit (27 October 2011). "My Ganda Bandhan- Gurupurnima- Ustad Allarakha Khansaheb (Abbaji)".
  6. https://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/10/prweb12272440.htm
  7. http://www.warrensenders.com/journal/playing-for-the-planet-home-page/playing-for-the-planet-world-music-against-climate-change/
  8. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/rhythm-divine/article17692930.ece
  9. http://www.amitkavthekar.com/#!about/c786
  10. https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/nm49WxkpdpaXVcKDML2MrK/The-TimeOut-Mint-Planner-23-August-2013.html
  11. http://lexington.wickedlocal.com/news/20170717/new-group-bringing-indian-classical-music-greats-to-lexington
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/entertainment/unwind/things-to-do-in-ahmedabad-today/articleshow/73128044.cms
  14. https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2018/10/26/sarod-maestro-amjad-ali-khan-to-perform-in-new-york-on-nov-3-435538/
  15. https://newsletter.blogs.wesleyan.edu/2019/10/14/indian-sarod-master-performs-at-wesleyans-43rd-annual-navaratri-festival/
  16. https://www.bronxartsensemble.org/amaan-ali-bangash-and-ayaan-ali-bangash-to-perform-with-bronx-arts-ensemble/
  17. Kavthekar, Amit (4 April 2014). "Ashwini Bhide Performs in Salem on Monday - Articles - Arts & Entertainment".
  18. "Modal Improvisation Clinic with Ken Zuckerman and Amit Kavthekar". Berklee College of Music.
  19. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/shanta-gokhale/singing-in-the-rain/articleshow/60198217.cms
  20. https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/specials/summer-arts/2018/05/18/critic-picks-from-newport-rockport-points-between-best-jazz/9Ga4NbMefnJf2O7sDSdkDI/story.html
  21. https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20180118/saxophonist-phil-scarff-performs-music-of-india
  22. http://news.ku.edu/professor-pushes-boundaries-music-through-his-math
  23. https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/world-music-festival-chicago-2019-guide-schedule-concerts/Content?oid=73024260
  24. https://abc7chicago.com/entertainment/2019-world-music-festival-chicago-music-lineup-announced/5418611/
  25. https://indianewengland.com/2019/09/shadaj-presents-east-meets-west-music-concert-on-sept-27th-in-lexington-ma/
  26. https://www.telegram.com/entertainmentlife/20180118/saxophonist-phil-scarff-performs-music-of-india
  27. https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2019/7/25/8929655/world-music-festival-chicago-2019-lineup-september
  28. https://news.ku.edu/2020/02/10/math-inspires-musicians-creative-breakthrough
  29. https://www.firstpost.com/long-reads/geometry-sings-blues-in-indian-american-mathematicians-radical-new-music-system-7856691.html
  30. https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/indian-american-math-professor-purnaprajna-bangere-is-building-bridges-between/article_77d8cc86-50c1-11e9-be50-6b9b294af10d.html
  31. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/10/arts/bach-north-indian-music-make-fine-pair/
  32. https://indianewengland.com/2018/10/amjad-ali-khans-concert-on-peace-non-violence-tribute-to-gandhi-guterres/
  33. https://www.sentinelassam.com/news/amjad-ali-khans-concert-a-tribute-to-gandhi-antonio-guterres/
  34. https://www.amitkavthekar.com/about
  35. "NESOM ABOUT". New England School of Music.
  36. https://www.newenglandschoolofmusic.org/faculty2
  37. http://www.radioandmusic.com/entertainment/editorial/press-releases/180718-pancham-nishad-presents-tribute
  38. "LearnQuest Classical Music Conference". LearnQuest Academy of Music. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
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