Vibhav Nageshkar is a front ranking tabla wizard of the country. We have seen him accompanying leading musicians of the stature of sarangist Ramnarayan, flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia,sarodist Brijnarayan and santoorist Ulhas Bapat. He gave a solo performance on the occasion of Ustad Alla Rakha Khan's death anniversary (Barsee) on February 3 at Shanmukhananda Hall.
“Alla Rakha was a stellar example of how the best of musicality could be induced into the art of tabla-playing. I have always looked upon him as one of my role models. Especially his ability to rhythmically interpret taals with uneven number of beats like the seven beat rupak taal,” said Nageshkar. Alla Rakha, according to him, also made an invaluable contribution while interpreting the tabla syllables like 'Tirkittak', 'Tirkit' and 'Dhindhin'. “That enhanced the tabla repertoire. Alla Rakha Khansaheb was also an expert at coming up with instant rhythmic responser which is called 'Hajarjababi Sangat in the parlance of tabla,” said Nageshkar.
Nageshkar is an exponent of the Delhi, Ajrada, Lucknow and Farukhabad gharana of the tabla. He is a pupil of the late Pandharinath Nageshshkar who was a direct pupil of the venerated Ustad Amir Hussain. The Lucknow style flowered through its intense interaction with the Kathak dance form. Since the Lucknow gharana style makes ample use of the entire palm of the right hand palm it is also called ‘Thapiya Baaj’. In the Lucknow vocabulary of the tabla syllables like ‘Dhit Dhit’, ‘Gadhetta’ and ‘Dhet Dhet’ are often heard, according to talba Guru Arvind Mulgaonkar. Nageshkar also brought in characteristics of the other gharanas. The whole day saw different performances by leading musicians including tabla star Zakir Hussain as a tribute to Ustad Alla Rakha Khan.
A rare talent passes away!
It is rare to find a dedicated music lover and amateur musician who have spent a life time propagating music. D.R. Khadke who passed away recently in Chembur was such a unique person. Khadke was the pillar behind the four day long Alladiya Khan Memorial Festival which is held in Chembur every year around Good Friday. Khadke was a senior intelligence official with a number of medals to his credit and worked under statesmen of the eminence of Indira Gandhi and Yashwantrao Chavan. He was a staunch follower of the Jaipur Attrauli gharana and student of the late Wamanrao Sadolikar. The festival began over 30 years ago and has bee going on till today. It offers platform to artistes from various gharanas and from various places in the country. There is no admission fee and the audience enjoys music thoroughly. Khadke would also hold informal baithaks at his residence and offer platform to young as well as deserving senior musicians.
He passed away at the age of 95 and a condolence concert was held at the Balvikas Sangh Hall.
Ganeshkumar who sings Marathi devotionals sang some compositions. Ganeshkumar is a Tamilian by birth but he has close bond with the lyrics of the Marathi saints. He sang the abhangs with deep sense of feeling. It was a fitting tribute to D.R. Khadke.