Yogesh Samsi is a prominent Indian Tabla Player, who belongs to the Punjab Gharana (one of the six playing styles of tabla). [1]Indian Classical Music Yogesh Samsi is the disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Yogesh Samsi was born on Sunday, 17 November 1968 (age 55 years; as of 2023) in New Delhi, India. His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He completed his formal education in New Delhi. Yogesh Samsi is settled in Mumbai.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Hair Colour: Salt & Pepper (semi-bald)
Eye Colour: Dark Brown
Family
Parents & Siblings
Yogesh Samsi’s father, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, was an Indian classical singer, who passed away in 2010 due to a prolonged illness. Yogesh Samsi’s mother, Shashikala Kaikina, is an Indian classical singer and a tutor. His mother was the Principal of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Music School in Mumbai.
Yogesh Samsi’s father and Indian Classical Singer, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini
Yogesh Samsi seeking blessings of his mother, Shashikala Kaikini
Yogesh Samsi has a sister, Aditi Kaikini Upadhya, who is also an Indian classical singer and a teacher.
Yogesh Samsi (left) with his sister, Aditi Kaikini Upadhya (right)
Wife & Children
Yogesh Samsi is married to Kavita Samsi. She is a homemaker. The couple has two sons, Shravan Samsi, and Avneesh Samsi. Shravan Samsi is a drummer and a music producer.
Yogesh Samsi with his wife Kavita Samsi (extreme left)
(left to right) Kavita Samsi, Yogesh Samsi, Avneesh Samsi, and Shravan Samsi
Career
Live Performances
Yogesh Samsi has performed at various concerts in many countries like the United States of America, Canada, Japan, and South Africa. Yogesh Samsi has performed at concerts like the International Festival of Music in Kuwait (2010), Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan (2002-2012), Darbar Festival (UK, 2006-2012), Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (Gwalior-2005), The Concert for the World Bank (Washington, DC-2007), and Bengal Classical Music Festival in 2016. Yogesh Samsi also performed at The Sydney Opera House in 2012 and at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, DC, in 2007.
Yogesh Samsi performing live at Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan in 2010
Yogesh Samsi performing live at the Darbar Festival in the UK
Yogesh Samsi performing live at the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh in 2005
Television & Radio
Yogesh Samsi has been featured in numerous television and radio shows like British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC- UK), South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Doordarshan (India), All India Radio (AIR- India), StarPlus India, and Idea Jalsa on Zee TV India.
Recorded Albums
In 2005, Yogesh Samsi released his Tabla solo album ‘Yogesh Samsi- The Tabla Series.’ The album has a total of 13 tracks.
Yogesh Samsi’s solo album ‘Yogesh Samsi- The Tabla Series’
In 2011, Yogesh Samsi featured in a collaboration album with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor maestro), ‘Raga Renaissance: Indian Classical Music Renditions On Santoor.’
Yogesh Samsi’s collaboration album with the Santoor maestro, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Yogesh Samsi has featured in collaboration albums with many Indian Classical Musicians like Ajoy Chakrabarty, Shahid Parvez, Ustad Vilayat Khan, and Ustad Rashid Khan.
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- In 2017, Yogesh Samsi received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Indian Classical Instrumental Music. [2]Sangeet Natak Akademi
Yogesh Samsi receiving the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2019 from the then president, Ram Nath Kovind
- In 2020, Yogesh Samsi received the ‘Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar Sangatkar Puruskar’ for his contribution to tabla. [3]Punekar News
Favourites
- Cuisine: South Indian
- Musician(s): Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain, and Ustad Shahid Parvez.
Facts/Trivia
- Yogesh Samsi started playing tabla at the age of 4 and got his initial training from Pandit Taranath Rao.
- Yogesh Samsi used to accompany his mother, Shashikala Kaikini, on her show to learn and understand the basics of rhythm and Indian Classical Singing.
- Yogesh Samsi started his professional training under Ustad Alla Rakha at the age of 10. He got training under Ustad Alla Rakha for 23 years. [4]Yogesh Samsi
- Yogesh Samsi is a member of the advisory board of the music department at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- Yogesh Samsi is a member of Saaz Music, an independent Indian Classical Music organization in the United Kingdom.
- Yogesh Samsi is the chief advisor for educational activities and promotions of Indian Classical Music for the famous music organization Darbar Arts Culture Heritage Trust.
- In 2017, Yogesh Samsi, along with other Indian Classical artists like Pandit Suresh Talwalkar (Tabla maestro) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Flautist), was appointed as a ‘Guru’ at India’s biggest Gurukul, Vishwashanti Sangeet Kala Academy, run by the M.I.T group of Institutes In Pune. [5]The National Herald
- Yogesh Samsi conducts online and offline workshops to teach students from all around the world.
Yogesh Samsi (in yellow) at his workshop in Mumbai
- Yogesh Samsi has performed with many famous artists like Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod maestro), Pandit Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod maestro), Anindo Chatterjee (Tabla maestro), Pandit Dinkar Kaikini (Indian Classical singer), Pandit Birju Maharaj (Indian Kathak dancer), and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
(Left to right) Yogesh Samsi, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ajoy Chakrabarty, and Shashikala Kaikini
Yogesh Samsi performing live with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Yogesh Samsi with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Yogesh Samsi with the tabla maestro Anindo Chatterjee (right)
Yogesh Samsi with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (right) at his house in 1994
Yogesh Samsi with legendary Indian Dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj (left)
References
