TEACHERS of LIFE, MUSIC and TABLA

I have been very fortunate to have studied  North Indian Tabla
with all of the gentlemen listed below at different phases of my livingness/beingness.
(1979 thru 1992) All have left an indelible impression on me as men, as musicians and as teachers. 

I gratefully and humbly acknowledge each of them for  their compassion,
selflessness, and PATIENCE with me and profoundly apologize for any of my inadequacies.

BOWING VERY LOW
PAZ
Christopher

HISTORY
I first heard tabla on a record (black round thing with a hole in the middle)
called FESTIVALS FROM INDIA in 1974, there was a tabla solo on it by the great Alla Rakha,
and it was the first time that I had ever heard the instrument being recited and played.

This is pre-internet, dvd, cd technology) in EAST LA.

There was little to nothing on tabla in the library in  EAST LOS
so I went to the record store, to the INTERNATIONAL SECTION,
WORLD MUSIC did not yet exist as a genre  - a record store is a building you
could actually walk into and see and hear records, read the liner notes,
buy the  record and take it home. )
​
I removed the shrink wrap rather unceremoniously and put the record on and and sat there fascinated by the SOUND's.)
There are (still) not very musicians, if any, of India who make EAST LOS ANGELES
home, i.e., no one to study with there.

So I went on a quest for schools that taught tabla.
(Which was not considered the wisest career move by my parents in 1975)

My choices at the time were
UCLA in California,
Wesleyan University in Connecticut,
Ali Akbar College of Music in San Rafael,
or Cal Arts in CA

I was BEYOND fortunate to receive a full scholarship to CAL ARTS* and study 
with these wonderful teachers, and be immersed into a world I knew little to nothing about.

One of the most interesting things about tabla is that it is an aural/oral tradition.

At that time I was playing drumset in rock and fusion bands.
We would buy a record learn it and play the music at gigs. e.g.,
MAHAVISHNU, 
RETURN TO FOREVER 
WEATHER REPORT,
GONG, 
TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME,
YES
GENTLE GIANT
BRUFORD, etc., etc.,

Music was also, at that time, very much an aural/oral tradition.
No commercial transcriptions dvds, youtube, etc., for you to check out and play along with.

I remember wearing out records, you would put the needle on it and it would go straight across.
I bought the same albums many times trying to learn these grooves by (literally) wearing out the  grooves  on the record.

Tabla was very much the same way for me.

LISTEN, LISTEN LISTEN and try to imitate, and emulate the playing, I still attempt it every day,
and every day these men and their amazing spirits are with me as men, musicians and teachers.

It is only due to their selflessness to impart their knowledge with me and many others
​which allows me to make music as a living playing tabla and/or drumset.
​
Hundreds of performances  in 29 countries and 5 continents ............................ so far

Playing what I want, with who I want.
I have been able to travel the world playing my music and the music of others
due to their great gifts
FOREVER INDEBTED TO THE FOLLOWING
GRACIAS A TODOS
cg

PANDIT TARANATH RAO
http://davidphilipson.com/pages/Taranath.html
My first tabla teacher - very open, very giving and very forgiving,
and walking tabla history

LEONICE SHINEMANN
http://www.lianrecords.com/pgs/leonice.htm
My 2nd tabla teacher and Gurujis primary torch bearer

JOHN BERGAMO 
http://www.pas.org/About/the-society/halloffame/JohnBergamo.aspx 
MAESTRO John Bergamo,
my 3rd tabla teacher and man with 3 feet
one in jazz,
one in 20th century music
and another foot(?) in world music.
An amazing man and an amazing musician
who continues to show me the way. 

SWAPAN CHAUDHURI
http://www.swapan.com/
My last tabla teacher
Swapan, always elegant, eloquent profound
and startlingly amazing

Onstage with SHENKAR 
October 2016
CLICK ON PIC FOR ADDITIONAL INFO