Amit Kavthekar Explained

Amit Kavthekar
Birth Name:Amit Suhas Kavthekar
Birth Date:11 August 1984
Origin:Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Instrument:Tabla
Genre:Hindustani Classical Music, Jazz, Fusion, World Music, Classical Music
Occupation:Musician
Years Active:2003–present
Associated Acts:Zakir Hussain (musician), Shahid Parvez, Aditya Kalyanpur

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]

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]

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]

Notes and References

  1. News: Venkatraman . Deepika . 28 March 2017 . Rhythm Divine .
  2. News: Kapoor . Nivedita . 11 July 2011 . Straight from the art .
  3. News: Kavthekar . Amit . 27 October 2011 . Rangoli Portraits .
  4. Web site: Meet Amit Kavthekar of New England School of Music – Boston Voyager Magazine | Boston City Guide. 12 June 2018 .
  5. News: Kavthekar . Amit . 27 October 2011 . My Ganda Bandhan- Gurupurnima- Ustad Allarakha Khansaheb (Abbaji) .
  6. Web site: World-Jazz Ensemble Natraj and Amit Kavthekar, Internationally-Renowned Tabla Player, to Perform Benefit Concert for Worcester Homeless Shelter.
  7. Web site: Playing for the Planet: World Music Against Climate Change « Running Gamak: Warren Senders' Blog.
  8. News: Rhythm divine. The Hindu. 28 March 2017. Venkatraman. Deepa.
  9. Web site: HOME.
  10. Web site: The TimeOut Mint Planner, 23 August 2013. 22 August 2013.
  11. Web site: New group bringing Indian classical music greats to Lexington.
  12. Web site: Shahid Parvez Khan, Sitar Concert with Amit Kavthekar, tabla - Destination Salem . 9 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109194323/http://www.salem.org/event/shahid-parvez-khan-sitar-concert-with-amit-kavthekar-tabla/ . 9 November 2018 . dead .
  13. Web site: Ahmedabad News – Latest & Br.
  14. Web site: Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan to perform in New York on Nov. 3. 27 October 2018.
  15. Web site: Indian Sarod Master Performs at Wesleyan's 43rd Annual Navaratri Festival.
  16. Web site: Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash Performance | BAE.
  17. News: Kavthekar . Amit . 4 April 2014 . Ashwini Bhide Performs in Salem on Monday - Articles - Arts & Entertainment .
  18. Web site: Modal Improvisation Clinic with Ken Zuckerman and Amit Kavthekar . Berklee College of Music .
  19. Web site: Singing in the rain - Mumbai Mirror . 1 April 2020 . 2 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170902093846/https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/shanta-gokhale/singing-in-the-rain/articleshow/60198217.cms . dead .
  20. News: Critic's picks: From Newport to Rockport to points between, the best in jazz . 18 May 2018 . . 9 November 2018 . 9 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234624/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/specials/summer-arts/2018/05/18/critic-picks-from-newport-rockport-points-between-best-jazz/9Ga4NbMefnJf2O7sDSdkDI/story.html . dead .
  21. Web site: Music of India.
  22. Web site: Professor pushes boundaries of music through his math. 17 October 2018.
  23. Web site: The Reader's guide to World Music Festival Chicago 2019. 10 September 2019.
  24. Web site: 2019 World Music Festival Chicago music lineup announced - ABC7 Chicago. 25 July 2019.
  25. Web site: Shadaj Presents "East Meets West" Music Concert on Sept. 27th in Lexington, MA - INDIA New England News . 1 April 2020 . 26 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200926105221/https://indianewengland.com/2019/09/shadaj-presents-east-meets-west-music-concert-on-sept-27th-in-lexington-ma/ . dead .
  26. Web site: Music of India.
  27. Web site: World Music Festival lineup boasts Ragamala and Pan Latin Music celebrations, Global Peace Picnic, and more. 25 July 2019.
  28. Web site: Math unlocks a musician's mind. 10 February 2020.
  29. Web site: Geometry sings the blues in Indian-American mathematicians radical new music system.
  30. Web site: Indian American Math Professor Purnaprajna Bangere is Building Bridges Between Music and Math | Global | indiawest.com . 1 April 2020 . 29 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190329034940/https://www.indiawest.com/entertainment/global/indian-american-math-professor-purnaprajna-bangere-is-building-bridges-between/article_77d8cc86-50c1-11e9-be50-6b9b294af10d.html . dead .
  31. Web site: Bach and North Indian music make a fine pair - the Boston Globe. The Boston Globe.
  32. Web site: Amjad Ali Khan's concert on 'peace, non-violence' tribute to Gandhi: Guterres - INDIA New England News . 9 November 2018 . 9 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109195310/https://indianewengland.com/2018/10/amjad-ali-khans-concert-on-peace-non-violence-tribute-to-gandhi-guterres/ . dead .
  33. Web site: Amjad Ali Khan's Concert a Tribute to Gandhi: Antonio Guterres - Sentinelassam. 26 October 2018.
  34. News: February 10, 2020 . Bach and North Indian music make a fine pair . 2023-10-23 . The Boston Globe . en-US.
  35. Web site: The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph . 12 July 2022 .
  36. Web site: Al di Meola at Blue Note NYC (A Gallery) . 7 September 2021 .
  37. Web site: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan | Rain Raag | Sarod & double Tabla | Pune | Sawai Gandharv Mahotsav 2022 | . .
  38. Web site: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs during the Inaugural day of 68th Sawai Gandharv Bhimsan Mahotsav . .
  39. Web site: After 2-year hiatus, capacity crowd on Day 1 as old-timers, youngsters throng Sawai Gandharva music festival . 15 December 2022 .
  40. https://www.harivallabh.org/programme.php
  41. Web site: ABOUT.
  42. Web site: NESOM ABOUT . New England School of Music .
  43. Web site: NESOM . 9 November 2018 . 9 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181109234545/https://www.newenglandschoolofmusic.org/faculty2 . dead .
  44. Web site: Pancham Nishad presents a tribute to Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan.
  45. Web site: LearnQuest Classical Music Conference . LearnQuest Academy of Music . 6 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120641/http://www.learnquest.org/conference2012/artist_profile.php?artist=17 . 4 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .

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