Soumik Datta

Hindustani Sarod

3 minute read

Soumik Datta is a sarod player from the younger generation, describing himself as ‘a slave to the instrument’. He trained under the late maestro Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta, flying to Kolkata for periods of intense study during his holidays from boarding school in the UK.

Today he plays a vast range of styles – jazz, Indo-blues, drum’n’bass, and many more. But he always returns to his classical roots, performing traditional Hindustani music around the world to increasing acclaim. Rumour has it that he once turned down the chance to tour with Beyoncé.

Soumik Datta has graced the Darbar Festival many times since 2007, performing with a variety of esteemed artists such as Sukhvinder Singh, Shahbaz Hussain, and Jesse Banister. His performances have captivated audiences with his mastery of the sarod and his ability to blend traditional Indian classical music with innovative influences. Soumik’s collaborations with these distinguished musicians have showcased his versatility and creativity, contributing to the festival’s rich musical diversity and leaving a profound impact on listeners.

“Hindustani music is an infinite source…it’s controlled and detailed, so in a way you’re spiralling inwards as you elaborate a raga, towards the centre”

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Soumik Datta & Sukhvinder Singh | Raag Gorakh Kalyan

Recorded at Darbar Festival on 25 Oct 2018, at London’s Barbican Centre. Musicians: - Soumik Datta (sarod) - Sukhvinder Singh (tabla) Raag Gorakh Kalyan; Thaat: Khamaj; Samay: Night Young sarod maestro Soumik Datta performs Raag Gorakh Kalyan, a spacious early night raga derived from folk tunes from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Soumik Datta is a sarod player from the younger generation, describing himself as ‘a slave to the instrument’. He trained under the late maestro Buddhadev Das Gupta, flying to Kolkata for periods of intense study during his holidays from boarding school in the UK. Today he plays a vast range of styles - jazz, Indo-blues, drum’n’bass, and many more. But he always returns to his classical core, performing Hindustani music around the world. Sukhvinder Singh (affectionately known as ‘Pinky’) is a singular percussionist, specialising in low-tuned tabla and jori. Hailing from the Punjab, his first musical immersions were in dholak and pakhawaj, playing traditional Sikh devotional music. At age five he became a disciple of pakhawaj exponent Nihal Singh. His public debut aged 13 left a strong impression on Alla Rakha after which, he left for Varanasi to train under Benares gharana master Kishan Maharaj. His subsequent career has featured accompaniment slots with Ravi Shankar, Vilayat Khan, Amjad Ali Khan, and other leading Hindustani instrumentalists, and a Grammy award for his work with Ry Cooder and Vishwa Mohan Bhatt on A Meeting by the River. Zakir Hussain proclaimed him to be the world’s foremost jori exponent after his solo at Allah Rakha’s 2016 memorial concert. Soumik follows in the footsteps of his guru Buddhadev Das Gupta in performing Gorakh Kalyan, a spacious raga of the early night hours. It takes its name and structure from regional folk tunes of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh - in fact its modern form appears to have no distinctive traces of Kalyan at all, leading some musicians to refer to it simply as Gorakh. It ascends with only four core notes [SRmDS], and descends with only five [SnDmRS], although ornamental touches of Pa can be included in either direction for added colour. Sa and Ma are the vadi-samvadi [king and queen notes], and komal Ni in mandra saptak [low octave] is a key resting note. Musicians often utilise the high degree of melodic space with heavy ornaments, balancing its folksy character with intricate detail. It lends itself particularly well to instrumental renditions. Recorded at Darbar Festival on 25 Oct 2018, at London’s Barbican Centre: - Soumik Datta (sarod) - Sukhvinder Singh (tabla) Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.