Legendary tabla player Shankar Ghosh(80), died on January 22 due to pneumonia, cardiac problems and old age complications. He had undergone an angioplasty following heart complications in mid December at the Medica Superspecialty Hospital. He was on ventilator since Wednesday. He breathed his last 9 p.m. on January 22. Known for his innovative genius, he revolutionised both the art of tabla solo performances as well as tabla accompaniment. He is the creator of the much acclaimed all-drum orchestra Music of the Drums – later called the Calcutta Drum Orchestra.

 About Ghosh:- 

• Ghosh trained mainly with the legendary Pandit Gyan Prakash Ghosh. Ustad Feroz Khan, Pandit Anath Nath Bose and Pandit Sudarshan Adhikari were his other teachers.
• Having learnt from exponents belonging to different gharanas or schools of music, Ghosh was able to create a unique style of playing which is followed by his students, many of them prominent names of the of the music world now.
• A recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1999-2000, Ghosh had taken forward the concept of tabla ensembles large number of tabla players showcasing their talent together.
• He also received the ITC Sangeet Research Academy award and the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan award.
• At various points of his glittering career, Ghosh performed with vocalists such as Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Pandit Vinayakrao Patwardhan, Girija Devi and Akhtari Bai.
• Away from India, he collaborated with artists like Greg Ellis, Pete Lockett and John Bergamo.

He toured a number of countries to play solo or with celebrated classical musicians like sitarists Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Vilayat Khan and violinist Pandit V.G. Jog and earned rave reviews.

 Bolster Your Knowledge Base 

Ensembles means a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together
Accompaniment means a musical part which supports or partners an instrument, voice, or group
Rave means an extremely enthusiastic recommendation or appraisal