"Cassius Khan is a shining star of our time in Canadian World Music."
The Juno nominated Cassius Khan is a master performer of combining the Classical styles of Ghazal/Thumri singing and the Tabla, the North Indian pair of drums and presents both, simultaneously. He is a disciple of the late Malika e Tarranum Mushtari Begum (Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) and Tabla maestro Ustad Rukhsar Ali. 
A kind hearted soul, Khan is the only professional performing artist in the world who plays the Tabla and sings traditional Classical Ghazals (Urdu poetry) and Thumris (light classical compositions in Hindi) simultaneously. His talent has stunned audiences since most Ghazaliyans play Harmonium, and Tabaliyans play their Tabla.
Combining Indian Classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music and many noted Indian Classical Music gurus have proclaimed that singing and playing Tabla in unison is a rather difficult and rare feat to master. He was conferred the tile of "Ustad" or Maestro in 2016 by Pt Salil Bhatt and Grammy Awardee Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.
Khan's trademark is performing the extremely rare and difficult Tarranum Ang Gayaki style in which the lyrics share a different meter from the rhythm, but meets at the Sum point in a certain phrase. Tarranum Ang Gayaki is as difficult to sing for vocalists as it is to accompany by Tabla players because of the bending of timing, but Khan has been crowned as the inventor of singing Ghazal and playing Tabla simultaneously in this rare style and has etched his contribution into the field of Indian Classical Music.
Khan's talents also include acting for a TV Ad for Nanak Foods and was a talk show host for radio. He has performed in over 20 countries with some of the world's most critically acclaimed musicians such as Grammy Award winning  Mohan Veena master Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Satvik Veena player Pt Salil Bhatt, Slide guitar Legend Ellen McIlwaine, Jazz Pianist Stu Goldberg, and Mediterranean Guitar wizard Pavlo. Khan's first solo album, "Cassius Khan, Young Tabla Wizard" was released by KM Prom/HMV India in 1990. Khan also collaborated with Ellen McIlwaine on their release “Mystic Bridge” (2006) with earned them a Juno Award nomination, with Stu Goldberg on “Dark Clouds” (2006), Dave Martone's “A Demon’s Dream” (2004) and “The Alchemists” (2004), Pavlo's "I Feel Love Again" (2002), D'Arcy Greaves' "Angel of Sevilla ( 1989), Dan Mani's "Mani Licks" ( 1990), ROAM’s, “Baby Steps” (2008) and 20,000 Miles with Slide to Freedom ( 2011). Out of his 30 + album recordings, Khan's Ghazal/Tabla album, "Mushtari-a live concert" was nominated for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards for World Album of the Year!
Hailed as Canada's "Multifaceted Indian Classical Musician," Khan has lent his hands and voice to literally every genre of music and has had the honour of performing for the UN, the PMO (Permanent India Mission and) WIPO in Geneva, Switzerland thanks to the invitation by the Indian Ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Rajiv Chander in 2017 and 2018, and is an Adjudicator for the Juno Awards.
Khan is married to acclaimed Kathak Dancer/ Harmonium player Amika Kushwaha, and they reside and teach Music and Dance in New Westminster, BC, Canada when they are off tour.
To ensure the survival and patronage of the Indian Classical Arts in Canada, Cassius Khan founded the Mushtari Begum Festival of Indian Classical Music and Dance, which aims to showcase Classical musicians and dancers to the Canadian audiences which will take place every year in the summer/fall months in New Westminster, BC Canada. The MBF debuted on August 25th 2012, and is a small but celebrated Indian Classical Music festival in Western Canada. Both Khan and his wife, Amika, run the MBF together. The MBF was Voted the Best Arts Festival in New Westminster in 2014 by the New Westminster Record! For more information on the MBF, please go to www.mbfestival.ca
- See more at: http://www.cassiuskhan.com

A Tabla player from around the way in beautiful British Columbia, Canada
Tracy has played drum set since the age of 13. He earned a music diploma (2 yrs) in jazz from the Grant MacEwan Community College drum / music program in 1986, where music theory, ear training, writing skills, and performance were the focus.

 Tracy co-founded the instumental prog-rock band Mind Gallery with keyboardist Elio Bruno, releasing CD's in 1991,1996 and 2000.
 
In 1995, Tracy began the arduous journey of learning Tabla with his first teacher professor Gurdev S. Phull, a Sikh music teacher who teaches Harmonium, Voice and Tabla.

 In 2000 Tracy's life changed when he met the amazing Tabla maestro Satwant Singh, who was a top student of Ustad AllaRakha.
Satwant demanded dedication and discipline, teaching strictly classical style compositions from the Punjab Gharana, expecting students to learn extended Kaidas, fast Relas, very complicated Chakardars, Thukras, and Peshkars, all to be played by memory.

In 2012, looking for a new direction perhaps, Tracy started collaborating with co-worker, producer/engineer and long time friend Konrad Soundmaker. Konrad was very supportive (Thanks Konrad!!) and encouraged the filming and recording of these tracks and videos seen at...... 

.http://www.youtube.com/user/TracyGTabla?ob=0&feature=results_main

Tracy and Konrad are extremely enthusiastic about this collaboration and have many "works" to come in the near future.

CONTACT: tracygtabla@gmail.com

Thank you for listening / watching..
Your support is much appreciated.

Exploring and learning the world of music

Tunes with friends that love playing music and disc golf

Papa String Band......Funky Newgrass Honk from Columbia, SC

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