Thursday, August 15, 2013
RAHUL SHARMA (born 25 September
1972) is an Indian classical musician of Hindustani classical music. He
plays santoor and is also a vocalist.
Shivkumar
Sharma, his father, mastered the instrument by experimenting with various
striking positions and tones. As Shivkumar's status rose in the musical circles
of Jammu & Kashmir, word of his performances grew over borders and
continents. Rahul Sharma continued the tradition of the instrument. He was
always in love with music, singing and playing the harmonium at an
early age. Learning the santoor at age 13, he wasn't completely sure of
pursuing music until he turned 17. After studying economics at Mumbai's
Mithibai College, Rahul Sharma began performing with his father. He started
accompanying him in concerts in 1996, at the age of 24.
The
mountainous region of Jammu & Kashmir was where Rahul's musical lineage
evolved and in September 2000, Real World Records released Music
Of The Himalayas, a live performance in Turin featuring Sharma,
percussionist Pandit Bhawani Shankar, andtabla player Ustad Shafat Ahmed
Khan. Rahul has performed in North America and throughout Europe, and at
various folk and world music festivals, including WOMAD.
He
quickly became a sought after concert artist, and has released several CDs,
some solo and some with his father. He has collaborated with international
musicians like pianist Richard Clayderman and keyboardist Kersi
Lord. The Confluence (2002) has mostly Indian titles, six of
which were composed by Rahul Sharma himself. He provided the music for the
Hindi feature film Mujhse Dosti Karoge, for which he received the
award in the 'Best Debut-Music Director' category at the 2002 Zee Bollywood
Music Awards. His last album Time Traveler [sic] which has
been described as New-Age was released on March 10, 2006.
He
collaborates with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt Bhavani Shankar Kathak, Shafat
Ahmed Khan tabla.
In
cooperation with the Aga Khan Trust For Culture, Smithsonian Folkways
Recordings will release three volumes
of its initially seven volumes’ Central Asian Music Sereis on March 30, 2010. Vol.9:
In the Footsteps of Babur: Musical Encounters from the Lands of the Mughals
explores the common ground of musical styles, sensibilities, and instruments
from Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Northern India. Six brilliant instrumentalists,
amongst whom Rahul Sharma and Homayun Sakhi, the leading Afghan rubâb player,
illuminate the musical legacy of the Mughal Empire, founded five centuries
ago by Emperor Babur.
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