Biography

N. Ganesh Kumar Kanjira Ganesh Kumar is a young Kanjira exponent (South Indian Frame Drum Tambourine) from Chennai - a Southern Metropolitan City in India. Born in a music loving family in 1964, Ganesh is one of the few percussionists, with an aesthetic sense of approach in playing this traditional classical instrument. He learned from versatile genius and percussion maestro Sri T.H. Subash Chandran, in whom Ganesh Kumar found a teacher, friend, philosopher and guide to mean him a perfect percussion artist in every respect. Ganesh Kumar learned fundamental training from Sri T. R. Hari Hara Sharma and he switched over to frame drumming by the advice of Sri Subash Chandran.

Ganesh Kumar

Ganesh Kumar performed with all the leading musicians in India and abroad and earned the appreciation from Doyen of Carnatic Music. He found new techniques in playing this "One hand instrument" and found unimaginable nuances of melody from this amusing bass percussion instrument. He earned laurels not only from India, but also from renowned jazz musicians all over the world. He can adopt and modify the different schools of thought and can match with any percussion artist in the world.

Ganesh Kumar received the prestigious "Fulbright Fellowship Award" in performing arts for the year 2000-2001, sponsored by the Department of State, USA and US Educational Foundation of India. During this period he was teaching Kanjira at the Queens College to the percussion music students of The Aaron Copland School of Music, New York. He also gave master classes, lecture demonstrations and presentations about Indian percussion music in the Julliard School of Music, Queens College, Wagner College, The New School of Music, United Nations International School and other public schools.

He has accompanied on this instrument to all the leading musicians, to name a few Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Dr M. Balamuralikrishna, Ms Chandralekha and other leading musicians of younger generations of this age. He has also performed with Frame Drummer Glen Velez, Italian percussionist Alessandra Belloni and a 30 minutes recording session with legendary drummer Max Roach and with Talujon Percussion Quartet. Received many awards and titles including "Yuva Kala Bharathi", Best Kanjira Artist and played in many albums and CDs.

Performances in India:

· Percussion Ensemble concert in New Delhi on the occasion of "Vadyotsav" conducted by Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi.

· At Pragati Maidan, New Delhi with Dr L. Subramaniam in "East Meets West" concerts.

· In Hyderabad, with Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi on the occasion of Swami Vivekananda Centenary Celebrations.

· With Dancer and Choreographer Ms Chandralekha at "Tata Theatre" in Mumbai conducted by Max Mueller Bhavan and in "Khajuraho International Festival", Bhopal.

Performances outside India:

· Concert celebrating "Festival of India" at the Tschavsky Theatre in Moscow with Russian Philharmonic Orchestra.

· Concert at Tokyo with Japanese Jazz Musicians and L. Subramaniam in "East Meets West" concerts.