TRAINING
My training in tabla began at the age of twelve; Shri Paramjit Singh of the Panjab Gharana (school) came home to give me private lessons. As soon as I was deemed old enough, I began to cycle to the home of his guru, Shri Pavan Kumar Verma. During this time, I also visited and learnt from the eldest guru of that lineage, Ustad Lakshman Singh Seen of Jalandhar.
Serious taleem (education) began when I moved to New Delhi four years later. I was accepted as a ganda-bandha shagird (disciple) of Ustad Chhamma Khan of the Dilli gharana. I also took lessons with his illustrious son, Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan.
In the winter of 2005, I went to Benares to learn layakari (rhythm-work) from Pandit Kishen Maharaj of the Benaras gharana.
Thus, with tabla I have had the good fortune to study three different styles. With such a foundation, I was ready to make the leap to percussion.
PERCUSSION
I play darbouka, djembe, cajon, didgeridoo, udu/ghatam, pandero and Iranian def. Together with tabla, these seven percussion instruments form my major repertoire.
I have also been experimenting with the Ojibway native flute, the Slovakian fujara, the Nga (Tibetan ritual drum)...I use them as needed, so no two performances are ever the same!
When performing live, I use the KORG KAOSS Pad together with the Digitech JAMMAN looper; I play over my own rhythms via the looper and create live soundscapes via the KAOSS Pad. This solo work is called STORIES THROUGH SOUND.
CURRENT RELEASE
The CD Drum Dimension-First Master was released in Europe last June. It is sold at all performances & events.
I'm working on completing the double-disc. It features the redoubtable Dhol master Gonga Sain and his brother, Mithu. I've played didgeridoo, djembe and def on Disc I. Disc II is the brothers playing their traditional repertoire together.
Listen to Didge, Dhol & Djembe on www.myspace.com/suchetm