Sandeep Das Tabla – HumEnsemble.com

Without having the courage to ask him, where to, I just drove out straight. Anyway soon enough he directed me to a location where I had never been to before. There he asked me to park the vehicle on one side of the street and we shifted to a Rickshaw!

We kept moving from wide roads to narrow lanes till there was no way you could move any further, other than walking. So after a point we paid the rickshaw puller and started walking. Guruji at the front and myself behind him.

I was wondering all the time, “where are we headed?” I have not even been to this part of the city in so many years. And Guruji seemed to be lost in some thought, which was not easy to decipher.

We finally reached a small house in one of the lanes. I had no clue where we were by then.

Anyway as we entered two young men on seeing Guruji, touched his feet in reverence and asked surprised, how he was visiting them?

Guruji asked them about there father and said, “ I wish to see you father.”

Soon enough a really old man came out whom Guruji refered to as “bhaiya” a term for someone elder than you.

After the exchange of pleasantries, the old man asked what had brought Guruji to his doors after so many years?

I was myself eager to know the purpose of such a hurried and secretive trip. As Guruji told this man how his elder daughter was to be married in a few days time and how he had lost the key to his safe and needed it badly now. I could not help but almost sigh in dismay to the sure futility of such an effort.

So what is this old man going to do about your key, Guruji? This was the question that I would have loved to ask him, not that I did , though!

So here is an old man who seems so frail that if he is able to take care of himself that should be good enough. He definitely doesn’t seem to be remotely connected to any kind of Police deptt…He also doesn’t seem to be the fittest of locksmiths, either!

And here are we asking about our key?

On hearing this the old man instructs his sons to get him an even older register. He asks Guruji certain questions about when he thinks he last had the key, what color the key or key chain were and some very simple questions, which almost had me giggling.

How on Earth are these questions going to tell him where the key is now?

Then the Old man sat about doing some scribbling in this register of his and within like 2 minutes or probably even less he looked up smiled and said, “ They are in your bathroom.”

I was ready to break into a huge bout of laughter, but somehow managed to hold on and save myself from sure death in the hands of my Guruji.

On hearing this, my Guruji also expressed his doubt, saying that he himself cleans his bathroom and thus could not have missed the key there.

But the Old Man could not be prodded into anything more, he was confident and not ready to even discuss this any further. He offered us both Lassi.

By now I was more curious to run back home and prove this man wrong than anything else.

The route back seemed longer to me…!

On reaching back Guruji called his youngest daughter and told her what that man had said and asked her to go with me and check his bathroom.

I, almost ran towards it.

She took one section of the bathroom and me the other…as we looked through…I suddenly heard her exclaim…within a minute or so… “Ah, found it!”

I rushed towards her side and yes , there she was dangling the key chain in her fingers and showing it to me.

“Where did you find it?”, I asked. “Here under the cover of the soap case.” Was her simple answer.

So there was the key with the key chain et all lying under the cover of the case, exactly at the place where the man had predicted.

I just couldn’t believe my eyes or ears. The experience of what I had just experienced first hand was just a little too much to sink in quickly.

Here I was, a so called, modern, educated young man and here we were finding things as if by magic!

I had heard about these strange practices and art or science, (don’t know which category these things falls under…) But to see something like this with my very own eyes was an experience that I will never forget.

If there is someone out there, who can explain how and what that WISE OLD MAN did, I would be happy to have found another GURU!!!!!!!!!!!

It took me many years to realize that Varanasi is one of the most unique cities of the world. I will share many such wow experiences in that city with you when I get time!

Yo-Yo Ma and World Culture !

Jul 5, 2010 Uncategorized

It was my first time playing with the Silk Road Ensemble and members of the New York Philharmonic for our World Premiere Concerts. Year…probably 1998!

At the end of one of the shows, Yo-Yo was throwing a dinner for all of us. (One of the Gazillion times that he has fed us poor musicians!)

As I was about to leave for the restaurant I bumped into Yo-Yo. Looking at me he asked if I could wait for a few minutes, then we could walk there together.

I waited for a few minutes and then we were ready to leave. He had his Cello on his back and his concert clothes in his hand. I had my Tabla case, my spare tabla in a backpack and my concert clothes in my hand.

One look at me and before I could realize what he had in mind, (Not that anyone can ever guess what he has on his mind! J) he was carrying my Tabla case and walking on the streets of Manhattan.

I was aghast…at what followed! People were off course recognizing him on the street and wanted to get clicked and take his autographs…and here was this man carrying my Tabla’s!

I ran after him and kept asking him to give back my Tabla case. But would he listen? No!

Here I was from India, who could never imagine someone my senior in music and age carrying something for me, and there he was, one of the most well known artists of the world, carrying “MY” Tabla case!

Oh, God!

Every moment shared is a learning experience with this man!

On hearing me pleading for the millionth time, He suddenly stopped and asked with one of his innocent yet naughty looks, “What is the problem?”

I was glad, I was sure, he would understand what I was trying to say and give me back my Tabla’s.

So I blurted, “ actually where I come from, I cannot imagine someone senior to me carrying something for me…so please let me carry my Tabla’s .”

He smiled and said, “ Oh, great! That’s a lovely tradition and I really respect it…but the tradition where I come from, is not to let our youngsters carry anything!”

Lo and Behold…before I could realize what hit me, he was off with my Tabla case.

Putting it down, only after we had reached the Restaurant where everyone including the big shots of the Lincoln center and the New York Philharmonic were waiting to greet him!

I did not realize then that, this was just the beginning of the many times I would see and learn why he is one of the GREATEST human beings I would ever meet

New Pics!

Jun 26, 2010 Uncategorized

Visit the Photo gallery to see many new pics !

Two Lions and a Gun…Pt.Ravi Shankar & Pt. Kishan Maharaj?

Jun 21, 2010 Uncategorized

5 p.m. My Guruji, Pt. Kishan Maharaj, sends me a message…” Ask Sandeep to wear a nice kurta for the concert tonight!”

This is very surprising, I tell myself…I would anyway wear a nice kurta to tonight’s concert…it is a concert of Guruji with Pt. Ravi Shankar, come on.

The entire city of Varanasi was waiting for this concert of there’s. They were getting together on stage after a long gap.

So why this special instruction? Anyway…not giving much thought to it I brought out the best I had and wore it. As I came out of my room to pick up Guruji’s Tabla case and put it in his car…came the other statement that had my heart thumping…. “Bring your Tabla, too!”

“What??????” “Did I hear that correct?” “No…It can’t be!” Myriad thoughts crossed my head, like lightning! No…I cannot be playing in this concert. My heart thumping wildly by now, I asked mildly, “Guruji , my Tabla?” “ Yes you are playing tonight!” was his simple answer!

The whole world seemed to open up under my feet at that very moment…Oh, God…I must be dreaming…this cannot be true….If I had known earlier, at least I could have practiced more.

And Guruji…he could have at least told me a day earlier? Not that even a week would have been much. I would have rather preferred an entire month to prepare for just this one concert.

I was all of 15 years and was going to debut with Pt. Ravi Shankar and Pt. Kishan Maharaj ji on stage!!! Can you beat that!

And preparation? Nil!

O.K. I tell myself, I am sure Guruji is going to give me some tips before such a crucial concert.

We sit in the car and I keep waiting for him to say something…nothing comes out of his mouth. He is behaving as if this is just like any other concert?

Nothing still and we are about to reach the venue….

As we alight from the car…he looks at me and says, “ I don’t want you to be scared of anyone on stage…if I see that you get scared during the concert I will kick you off the stage then and there!”

Well there it was, the invaluable tip!

Enter Pt. Ravi Shankar, Greetings done, my Guruji tells him “ This is one of my favorite students, another bengali like you, he is going to play tonight with us.” Ravi Ji looks and smiles at me.

I am hoping against hope that they would probably practise a little so that I may know what they are going to play in another 30 minutes time…but practise? They do not even discuss anything about the concert!!!!

There I am suddenly infront of thousands of people and you can almost hear the eagerness with which the audience is waiting for the concert to begin.

Enter the Maestro’s…thunderous clapping!

Pt. Ravi Shankar announces the Raag and then to sound the death knell he mentions the Taal (Rhythm cycle) “ Dhamaar”!

This is the Taal that they both were famous for playing together. It was like the “piece de resistance”!

And can you believe it when I say that I had not even been taught this Taal till then?

End of a long Aalap. Time for the composition to start…I tell myself, Guruji knows that I have not been taught this Taal, he will definitely ask me not to play till some other easier Taal is played.

But little did I know, as Pandit Ravi Shankar starts his composition, Our eyes, mine and Guruji’s meet. Mine praying, that he asks me not to play…his, shoots a bullet into mine…and the only answer it had was “you better play or I kick your behind off the stage!”

Guruji used to have “Paan” (chew betel leaf) in those days…so he just makes this sound that means… “Play or Die”.

Then he took the mic and said something to the world that still resonates in my head and heart!

“ Ladies and Gentlemen, imagine someone who has just bought an air gun stepping out in to the woods. He thinks he will shoot some odd bird or rabbit…but what would happen if what he sees in front are Two Lions instead…( Pt. Ravi Shankar and himself) well, that is the condition of this student of mine. Please forgive him for any mistakes that he makes but do bless him .One day he will make you all proud!”

So there I am, starting my opening piece in a Taal, which I don’t know, but Thank God, Guruji had never spoon fed us…!

I quickly react and start improvising on another Taal, which is “Rupak” a seven beat cycle.

One composition I knew in Rupak was “ Dha thit Dha thit dha dha tinna kita tak…”. I just start playing that…I am not even breathing or alive…. it is a long and nice piece and somehow almost in slow motion it ends right at the downbeat.

As I hear clapping, I wake up and catch Pt. Ravi Shankar nod in acceptance towards my Guruji with a smile. I warily look towards my Guruji and see him beaming and smiling at me with pride!

Wow, what a relief…and I am still on the stage!!!!

L to R: Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Pt. Ravi Shankar, his student and Sandeep Das

This is one of the many such situations that he would just throw me into in the future. I would wonder then…why he doesn’t he tell me in advance?

I thank him more and more with every passing second now. Cause no matter how far I have flown, how little I have slept, what I have eaten or not…once my hands are on my Tabla and I am on stage…I am always ready for the show!!!!

I wish I could thank him in person once more!!!!

Famous Indian Tabla Player!

Jun 7, 2010 Uncategorized

It was a loooong trip to Bangalore from Varanasi by train. The year was probably 1988 or 1987. One also had to change a train at Chennai and connect to Bangalore.

2 nights and God only knows how many days later I was finally at the Bangalore station. Literally waiting for my ride to the hotel, a quick shower, food and then off to get some sleep.

I was at the platform waiting for someone to receive me…I saw some people running around with garlands ( traditional way of welcoming someone in India). There was a placard with “something” written on it…I say “something” as it was written in Tamil and it could be as foreign to a North Indian as to a North American or anyone else from any part of the world!

One by one every one disappeared from the platform except me and these few people who were still running around…definitely looking for someone.

Remember these were Pre-Cell phone days and thus there was no way for me to reach the organizers to ascertain who had come to receive me.

I finally decided to stop one of them with the garland and ask if by any chance they were looking for me. I stopped him and gave a smile as sweet as possible…and signaled and asked if by any chance it was me…but before I could proceed any further, he gave me a disgusted look as if to say I have enough problems already, don’t add to it. And hurried away from me looking carefully inside every coach that he could.

So there I was left alone again and starting to imagine the worst-case scenario.

1) Concert has been cancelled,

2) Now I have to fend for myself,

3) My return is booked on the day after tomorrow,

4) Do I have enough money to sustain my stay in a hotel?

5) No credit cards for self employed musicians in those days…(that’s another story.)

Suddenly I see these people looking at me from a distance and talking amongst themselves, almost placing a bet on me…!

Then a glimmer of hope as I see this one with the placard coming towards me. He comes to me and signals at the placard, obviously trying to ask me whether this was my name on the sign or not?

But there were three problems

a) The placard was written in Tamil

b) The guy could only speak and understand Tamil

c) I could not read, write or speak Tamil.

I desperately kept saying my name in English, almost begging that it was me that he was looking for. But he looked at me and just turned away.

I thought, there goes your chance of getting a free ride into the city atleast. Just as I was giving up hope the others in the group arrived and one of them asked, “ Are you Sandeep Das, Tabla player from Varanasi?” with a heavy southern accent.

Don’t take it otherwise but if you have faced it you know what I mean. Making out what the other is saying can be pretty tough.

I jumped at the mention of my name and almost shouted, “Yes”, three times!

They all looked at one another almost in surprise. The one with the garland decided that he had enough of carrying this thing around and promptly put it around my tired neck. The others started another animated conversation amongst themselves. A word of which I could not gather.

Then the one who could speak bits of English turned towards me and almost apologetically said, “ We were not expecting someone young and dressed in a T shirt and Jeans to arrive as Sandeep Das.” “We thought Sandeep Das the famous Indian Tabla player is someone older and since he is from Varanasi he would definitely be chewing Paan and wearing a traditional Kurta and Pajama!”

Little did I know that this was not going to be the first or the last such experience. Starting with this incident and many such that followed there was a time that whenever I was going to a new or little known place. Or going somewhere for the first time I would change into a Traditional dress before getting off the train or if taking a flight, would wear one to start with.

Not to say that I am any bit famous now …but I am glad to be an Indian Tabla Player at least!

New Pictures!

May 28, 2010 Uncategorized

humensemble12

New Pictures added…visit photo page! You can also check more of them out by copy pasting this link below to your browser.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2057978&id=1138472806&l=ede682f819

Who are you Mr. Sandeep Das?

May 22, 2010 Uncategorized

One of the biggest and most prestigious of concert venues in Europe.

On stage…Sound check!

Total no. of artists…about 12. Sound check for an all-play piece!

Sandeep Das…one of them.

Nothing was going correct that sound check and it was soon to be time for the show to start.

Every one had something to say and ask for from the sound engineer. I want more treble said someone. I, more bass, said the other.

Sandeep Das also had something to say, and the chorus of unsatisfied artists was getting louder and louder! No one knew what would happen next.

When suddenly, as Sandeep was also asking for better sound, he realized that there was one man who had not uttered a single word through out all this confusion… that man was sitting next to him on a chair.

And the sheer silence that emanated from that individual taught Sandeep another important lesson of his life!

“ Is the concert hall of 5000 seats sold out for you?” was the first question that seemed so obvious to Sandeep suddenly.

“Who are you,Mr. Sandeep Das?” was the next to hit him.

It is he, who should be shouting the most about sound. It is he, who should be the most worried about the sound…yet it is he, who has been absolutely quite in the entire episode?

Wow! The realization was just killing!

Without uttering a word than man was giving a lesson worth millions for an artist…any artist!

Ever since, as soon as Sandeep Das realizes that this is what he is going to get on a particular night. He remembers this man and steps back with a smile.

The cool and relaxed feeling that follows…makes it easier to play a good concert than not…always!

Don’t take my word, try it!

Does anyone need to know, still, Why Sandeep is just spell bound by this man, Yo-Yo Ma?

Archive for the ‘ Uncategorized ’ Category

Review from Philadelphia

Tanglewood

Interview in Rochester News paper

Varanasi – Incredible India! The case of the missing Key!

Yo-Yo Ma and World Culture !

New Pics!

Two Lions and a Gun…Pt.Ravi Shankar & Pt. Kishan Maharaj?

Famous Indian Tabla Player!

New Pictures!

Who are you Mr. Sandeep Das?

Recent Post

Recent Comments

Archives