Widely acknowledged as a brilliant soloist and a refined accompanist, he is considered one of the foremost repositories of the priceless works of the Farukhabad, Delhi, Ajrada and Lucknow styles (Baaj) of Tabla. His recitals are noted for the presentation of the artistic repertoire of great masters through authentic execution (nikaas) along with dynamic dexterity and ease. His performances stand out for their aesthetic appeal transporting the percussive element of Tabla into the realm of musical experience.
Nayan Ghosh has received rigorous and immaculate training from his late father, the renowned maestro ‘Padmabhushan’ Pandit Nikhil Ghosh, considered an important musical figure of the 20th century. He was fortunate to receive invaluable guidance and inspiration at an impressionable age from the legendary grandmaster of Tabla, Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa, and later also from his father’s first guru Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh. Nayan’s elder uncle was the pioneer flautist Pannalal Ghosh.
The blessings that he has received for his performances in the presence of such Tabla stalwarts like Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakwa, Ustad Amir Hussain Khan, Gurudev Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Ustad Keramatulla Khan, Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Inam Ali Khan and Ustad Nizamuddin Khan is what he cherishes deeply.
Recognised as a virtuosic Tabla soloist, Nayan Ghosh has offered brilliant accompaniments to maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Late Nikhil Banerjee, Pandit Jasraj, Pt Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Ustads Faiyyaz-Niyaz Ahmed Khan, Ustad Wahid Hussain Khan, Ustad Yakub Hussain Khan, Ustad Aslam Hussain Khan, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustads Akhtar-Ali and Zakir Ali Khan, Pandit Pratap Narayan, Ustad Bahadur Khan, Pt Buddhadev Dasgupta, Ustad Rais Khan, Ustad Munnawar Ali Khan, Ustad Abdul Halim Jaffer Khan, Pandit Ram Narayan, Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan, Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, Pandit Jagdish Prasad, Shobha Gurtu, Sharan Rani, Girija Devi, Pandit Manilal Nag, Ustad Aashish Khan, Ustad Shamim Ahmed Khan, Pandit Rajeev Taranath, Dr. L Subramaniam, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Ustad Mashkoor Ali Khan, Pandit Budhaditya Mukherjee, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt Vishwamohan Bhatt, Ustad Rashid Khan and several other eminent instrumentalists and vocalists.
Nayan Ghosh is also acknowledged as one of India’s finest Sitar players, which again renders a unique feature to his rare and versatile artistry.
Since 1974, he has performed, lectured and taught at prestigious International Music Festivals, universities, radio and television across all the continents.
Nayan Ghosh is the recipient of the Achievement Award 1998 from the Governor of California, Gray Davis in Los Angeles.
Presently, as Director of India’s well-known music academy, the SANGIT MAHABHARATI in Juhu, Mumbai, Nayan Ghosh is imparting advanced training to numerous young aspiring musicians. He is also presently a Distinguished Guest Professor at IIT-Bombay, imparting training in tabla, sitar, vocal and musicology.
