I hate to keep writing in hear when someone fucking dies. But I guess that's when most people become famous anyways. When the community in which they belong starts to evaluate their contribution, their importance, and their legacy. And usually when doing that, you can find greatness in most people.
Sharda Sahai was the reason I started playing tabla. I was interested in Indian music and for me, the best way to understand how a music works is to play it. I heard a live CD. A solo tabla CD. The sound completely knocked me out. It wasn't necessarily a "pretty" sound or even a "clean" sound that many tabla players strive for. It was big, boisterous and very striking. Towards the end of the CD he speaks some compositions like this one and it was hilarious to hear both in the sense that the music was so great that it was hard not to smile but also because his voice sounded like his drums! Old, grumpy, but sincere.
I listened to the CD in my car for weeks, pretending to sound out his compositions and taping long. Always full of surprises. I listened on my way home from a Binghamton trip with Dan Sherman. He liked it. In fact, everyone who was in my car for those few weeks or months like it. For the same reason I did. The sound. Like John Bonham, or the guy from the Melvins, or whatever. Think big and round.
There's not too much else I can say. First of all, I don't consider myself a tabla "player." Second, what can you say about someone you never met, who doesn't know who you exist, but is the reason for you having started playing and understanding music? It's his gift to me.
His legacy is in his students and his recordings. He was a teacher up til the day he died. Giving classes, demonstrations and lessons. Imagine a teacher who's not apprehensive about sharing? Imagine a teacher who encouraged the practice of Indian music by non-Indians? Notably Bob Becker. If I had that recording on me I'd put a link to it but I'd have to dig through my shit and I'm not 100% sure I even have it any more.
Here's a nice right hand work out for ya. Watch how he builds his solo and keeps adding new little ideas til the end. You think he can't play any faster or add any more notes but he does! And he's having fun.
Thanks Sharda.
Sharda Sahai was the reason I started playing tabla. I was interested in Indian music and for me, the best way to understand how a music works is to play it. I heard a live CD. A solo tabla CD. The sound completely knocked me out. It wasn't necessarily a "pretty" sound or even a "clean" sound that many tabla players strive for. It was big, boisterous and very striking. Towards the end of the CD he speaks some compositions like this one and it was hilarious to hear both in the sense that the music was so great that it was hard not to smile but also because his voice sounded like his drums! Old, grumpy, but sincere.
I listened to the CD in my car for weeks, pretending to sound out his compositions and taping long. Always full of surprises. I listened on my way home from a Binghamton trip with Dan Sherman. He liked it. In fact, everyone who was in my car for those few weeks or months like it. For the same reason I did. The sound. Like John Bonham, or the guy from the Melvins, or whatever. Think big and round.
There's not too much else I can say. First of all, I don't consider myself a tabla "player." Second, what can you say about someone you never met, who doesn't know who you exist, but is the reason for you having started playing and understanding music? It's his gift to me.
His legacy is in his students and his recordings. He was a teacher up til the day he died. Giving classes, demonstrations and lessons. Imagine a teacher who's not apprehensive about sharing? Imagine a teacher who encouraged the practice of Indian music by non-Indians? Notably Bob Becker. If I had that recording on me I'd put a link to it but I'd have to dig through my shit and I'm not 100% sure I even have it any more.
Thanks Sharda.
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