Nayan Ghosh was initiated into vocal music and tabla right since early childhood by his father and mentor, Pandit Nikhil Ghosh. However, it was since the age of 10, that he further received focussed Taleem in sitar encompassing Raagdaari, Alaapchaari, Gathkaari and authentic instrumentation techniques from his father, who also trained him in other genres of Indian music like semi-classical and folk music. Sitar had also been a part of the family tradition with his grandfather Akshay Kumar Ghosh being a learned Sitaria who trained under Shri Bhagwan Chandra Das of the Senia Gharana; and so the sitar-art was passed on to Nayan’s father too. Nayan’s elder uncle was the legendary and pioneer flautist Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, the ‘Father of North Indian classical flute’.
Since the 1990’s, Nayan has also received additional guidance in stringed instrumental compositional structures and information on rare Ragas from the eminent sarod maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta.
The hallmarks of Nayan Ghosh’s sitar recitals are intense melodiousness, tonal brilliance and rich delineations, bringing out the depth and the true spirit of the raga. His judicious balance of the gayaki (vocalisation) and the tantrakari (instrumentation) elements reveal his unswerving focus on musical form and beauty.
Nayan Ghosh is also acknowledged as one of India’s foremost Tabla exponents, which again renders a unique feature to his rare and versatile artistry.
Since the age of 18, in 1974, his music took him across continents repeatedly and saw him perform at some of the most prestigious International Music Festivals and Universities across Europe, USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, North Africa, South-East Asia and the Far East, with rave reviews in international dailies like the New York Times, the Sydney Morning Herald, the Tribune-de-Geneve, Franfurter-Allgemeine, the Kansas City Times and so on. Over the years, he has also taught and lectured at institutions like the Kent State University in Cleveland, the Emory University in Atlanta, the University of Colorado in Boulder, the University of Washington in Seattle and the Lausanne Conservatory in Switzerland, to name a few.
A recipient of the Achievement Award 1998 from the Lt. Governor of California, Gray Davis in Los Angeles, Nayan Ghosh has also collaborated with eminent Jazz wizards like pianist Yosuke Yamashita, guitarist Kazumi Watanabe and saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu of Japan, Kidd Jordan and Henry Butler of New Orleans, as well as world music figures like Paul Grant, John Bailey, Ross Daly and Hu-Ling.
Nayan Ghosh has to his credit several CD albums on noted international labels in India and abroad.
Presently, as Director of India’s well-known music academy, the SANGIT MAHABHARATI in Juhu, Mumbai, Nayan Ghosh imparts advanced training to numerous young aspiring musicians. He is also a Distinguished Guest Professor at IIT-Bombay, teaching tabla, sitar, vocal and musicology.
