GURUS AND JOURNEY
Gurdain started his journey at the age of 3 under the guidance of his father Ustad Harkirat Rayatt and grandfather Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee (Punjab and Benares gharana traditions). Growing up in a household of musicians and music lovers, Gurdain was enthralled by his father’s and his grandfather’s dedication and passion for performing and teaching within the community. His grandfather promoted Tabla Solo concerts through his organisation TAAL and his father also promoted and continues to promote Tabla Solos, Indian Classical Concerts, Ensemble Performances, Workshops and Summer Tabla Retreats through his organisation CHAKARDAR.
At the age of 16. Gurdain became a disciple of the tabla legend Guru Acharya Pandit Shankar Ghosh (Farukhabad Gharana) with guidance and support from his son Bickram Ghosh, leading to extensive advanced development and training in India, with further travels to France, Germany and UK with his guru.
He is now a disciple of Pandit Yogesh Samsi, taking continuous taleem to further his knowledge, understanding and development of performance aesthetics, expression and accompaniment to even greater heights with his guru’s blessings.
Gurdain has been fortunate to learn from some of the other great tabla players through workshops and individual taleem sessions including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, Pandit Kumar Bose.
STAGE PERFORMER
Gurdain Rayatt is one of the leading tabla players in the UK/Europe performing regularly as an international artiste. He excels both within the classical traditional realm as an apt soloist and sensitive accompanist to Hindustani Classical instrumental, vocal and dance performances, as well as a versatile and expressive musician in cross-cultural, folk and world music projects and groups.
CLASSICAL PERFORMANCE
He has been fortunate to have toured, performed and collaborated with some of the most proficient performers currently onstage including Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Pandit Kushal Das, Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya, Anoushka Shankar, Niladri Kumar, Kala Ramnath, Purbayan Chatterjee to name a few.
In the UK, he has performed alongside all the major performers on the scene including Roopa Panesar, Jesse Bannister, Jasdeep Degun, Kaviraj Dhadyalla, Giuliano Modarelli and more.
He also performs regularly with kathak dancers from Pagrav Dance Company, recently involved in projects including ‘Kattam Katti’ (expressing the kite-flying festival in India) and ‘Aunusthan’, a classical kathak presentation.
CROSS CULTURAL, WORLD AND FUSION
His experimental work into multiple genres has led him to become a prominent member of many multi-genre groups and bands within which he has performed internationally and toured on a regular basis…
– “Kefaya” with guitarist Giuliano Modarelli, keys player Al MacSween, drummer Joost Hendricks and singer Elaha Soroor
– “Michael Messer’s Mitra” with American Blues slide guitarist Michael Messer and indian slide guitarist Manish Pingle
– “Attuned” with guitarist Jack Jennings, violinist Omar Puente and cellist Shanti Jayashina
– “Seven Eyes” with brazilian guitarist Paolo Vinicius and singer Tanya Wells
– “Shez Raja” with bass guitarist Shez Raja, drummer Sophie Alloway and saxophonist Tony Kofi
He has recorded on a number of music releases and albums including:
– “Call of the Blues” by Michael Messer’s Mitra
– “Ether” with sitarist Anupama Bhagwat
– “Beyond Rhythmscape” by Bickram Ghosh
– “Groove Maker” as a tabla solo release
– “Songs of our Mothers” by Kefaya and Elaha Soroor
NOTABLE FESTIVALS AND VENUES
He has performed and recorded at the famous Abbey Studios and Westminster Hall alongside the UK Philharmonic Orchestra and Philharmonia. He has performed in major indian classical music festivals including Saptak, Harivallabh and Darbar as well as major world music festivals including WOMAD. He has frequently performed on BBC Radio with the BBC and Sky Arts and at venues including London Southbank, The Royal Albert Hall, V&A Museum, Leeds International Music Festival, Songlines Encounters Festival, Latitude Festival, WOMAD Festival, The NEC Arena, House of Commons and Westminster Abbey, The Sage Gateshead, Brighton Dome.
He has been honoured to perform for HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales (now King!) in the Royal Albert Hall and the V&A Museum as well as performances at the House of Commons in front of distinguished MPs.