Natarajan Ganesh Kumar, better known as Kanjira Ganesh was born June 1st, 1964 in a music loving family. He is an Indian percussionist, educator and music composer from Chennai – a Southern Metropolitan City in India. Ganesh Kumar ispeciazlizesd in the kanjira, a South Indian tambourine.
He learned from percussion maestro Sri T.H. Subash Chandran, in whom Ganesh Kumar found a teacher, friend, philosopher and guide to mean him a perfect percussion artist in every respect. Ganesh Kumar learned fundamental training from Sri T. R. Hari Hara Sharma and switched over to frame drumming by the advice of Sri Subash Chandran.
Ganesh Kumar performed with all the leading musicians in India and abroad. He found new techniques in playing this “One hand instrument”.
Ganesh Kumar received the prestigious “Fulbright Fellowship Award” in performing arts for the year 2000-2001, sponsored by the United States Department of State, and US Educational Foundation of India. During this period he was teaching Kanjira at the Queens College to the percussion music students of The Aaron Copland School of Music, New York. He also gave master classes, lecture demonstrations and presentations about Indian percussion music in the Julliard School of Music, Queens College, Wagner College, The New School of Music, United Nations International School and other public schools.
He has accompanied on this instrument to all the leading musicians, to name a few Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi, Dr M. Balamuralikrishna, Ms Chandralekha and other leading musicians of younger generations of this age. He has also performed with Frame Drummer Glen Velez, Italian percussionist Alessandra Belloni and a 30 minutes recording session with legendary drummer Max Roach and with Talujon Percussion Quartet. Received many awards and titles including “Yuva Kala Bharathi”, Best Kanjira Artist and played in many albums and CDs.
Discography:
Frameful of Beauty
Facing Beloved, with Facing East
Little Worlds, with Bela Fleck & The Flecktones
Pradosh, with Sankara
Swara Laya Mela, with T. H. “Vikku” Vinayakram
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
