CASSIUS KHAN is a master performer and exponent of Ghazal Gayaki, an important genre of Indian classical singing. He is the sole disciple of the late Malika e Tarranum Mushtari Begum (1934 - 2004) and Tabla master Ustad Rukhsar Ali.

A charismatic personality both on and off stage, Cassius is the only professional performing artist in the world who can execute highly skilled Tabla compositions and sing Ghazals simultaneously . This talent often leaves audiences stunned, since most Ghazalists only play harmonium. For an individual artist, combining Indian classical singing with Tabla is a first in Indian classical music and many music maestros have proclaimed that singing and playing tabla in unison is an incredible feat to master.

Among many of his accomplishments, Khan was awarded the “Salute for Excellence” Award from the City of Edmonton in 2005, has been featured at the 2005 AlbertaScene in Ottawa and co-composed the “Asia Music” segment in the 2001 World Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, Alberta.

Khan also made history, as he was also the very first Indian Ghazal/Tabla maestro invited to perform at the 2008 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. His concert was received with a packed hall and rave reviews.

Khan was also featured at Canadian Music Week 2009, where once again he was the first Ghazal/Tabla artist to be considered for a festival which is entirely concerned with rock, country and pop.

Khan has performed extensively internationally, including collaborations with Grammy Award winning artist Mohan Veena player Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Satvick Veena player Salil Bhatt, guitarist Ellen McIlwaine, pianist Stu Goldberg and guitarist Dave Martone.

Cassius Khan is featured on Ellen McIlwaine’s recent release “Mystic Bridge” (2006), on Stu Goldberg’s “Dark Clouds” (2006) album, two of Dave Martone’s albums, “A Demon’s Dream” (2004) and “The Alchemists”
(2004), and recently on ROAM’s new album, “Baby Steps” (2008).

When not touring, Khan has students around the world who learn Ghazal singing and Tabla playing from him.

Cassius Khan is married to Kathak Dancer/ Harmonium player Amika Kushwaha. They reside in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Choice Collaborations

• Amika Kushwaha (Kathak Dance, Vocal & Tabla)
• Pt. Salil Bhatt ( Satvick Veena)
• Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt ( Mohan Veena)
• Ust. Majid Qiyam (Rubab)
• Mihirangi ( Singer/Songwriter)
• Mel M Abret ( Oud)
• LAL ( Electronica)
• Rachelle Van Zanten ( Singer/Songwriter)
• Ust. Aashish Khan Debsharma ( Sarode)
• Ust. Mehdi Hassan (Ghazal)
• Don Alder ( Guitarist)
• Stu Goldberg (Pianist)
• Dave Martone (Guitar)
• Sal Farerras ( Percussionist)
• Maeve McKinnon ( Scottish Singer/Songwriter)
• Ellen McIlwaine ( Slide Guitar)
• Doug Cox (Dobro)
• Kita No Taiko (Japanese Drum Troupe)
• Anuj Rastogi (World Fusion Composer)

Press

“His technique runs rings around Ringo...” - Eye Weekly Magazine

“His personality and aura is breathtaking when he comes to the stage, when he sings, it is divine, when he plays, there is thunder, a real phenomenon...This is Cassius Khan...” - Apna Roots, Vancouver

“Khan is a truly complete musician, a tabla wizard, or as a festival reviewer put it, a “Tabla Tornado..” - ejazznews.net

“...Cassius Khan is one of the best multi talented musicians in the world,a class of his own, with a unique and incredible tabla and singing style.He’s the only one on the entire planet who can play tablas and sing at the same time!” - ejazznews.net

“…Cassius Khan is an uncanny musician with incredible mastery of the tabla and his voice...a real phenomena of Indian Classical music…” - Asian Times

“If Cassius Khan is any example, the next generation of Canada’s world music artists will be well prepared to explore truly multi-faceted careers.” - the Edmonton Journal

“An incredible tabla wizard, vocal sensation..his hands dance on the tabla with awesome power..what a powerful stage presence!” - Planet A A J

 Music 

"Mushtari - a live concert" has been nominated for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards for World Album of the Year!

"Mushtari" was recorded LIVE on October 17th at Gary Sill Music in Vancouver, BC. The Album is named after Khan's Guru, Malika-e-Ghazal (Queen of Ghazal) Mushtari Begum ( Dec 25th 1934-March 14th 2004) This live recording features Cassius Khan in his element, as he is the only professional performing artist in the world who plays the Tabla ( Northern India's chief percussion instrument) and sings Ghazals.
(Urdu poetry of love and heartbreak).

The album features 4 tracks, 1 being a Thumri (light Classical vocal compositions) 2 and 3 Ghazal compositions, and 4, part 1 of a Tabla Solo recital.

This is the first ever Ghazal recording in which an artist has played the Tabla and sang Ghazals on it simultaneously. This was thought never possible to be done because of the complexities of sound re enforcement at hand. There is always a fear of tracks bleeding into each other, and if there were any mistakes on "Mushtari" during the recording process there would be no way of correcting them. Khan decided to record this CD as a LIVE concert recording since Gary Sill's studio was large enough to accommodate a small audience.

In live vocal performances there are always mistakes, which is generally why they are rarely released. The challenge Khan faced here was, that not only was he singing Ghazals on this album, he was also playing the Tabla simultaneously as well. Because the Tabla requires immense strength and resilience to play, as the hands apply pressure at the right points of the drums to create sound, and Indian Classical vocal singing is very rigorous with the nuances of creating half and quarter tones, it would be common to lose breath while singing or lose the rhythm while playing. The difficulties would be that there would be no corrections. There could be no way a track could correct itself is Khan made any mistakes on his vocals or Tabla, or if Amika Kushwaha, were to play a wrong note on the Harmonium (an ancient reed Accordion), so recording this album was a huge challenge.

The last track of the album shows Khan's prowess as a Tabla Soloist in the rather difficult and mathematically astounding Vilambit Teentaal (slow 16 beat cycle), in which he plays a stupendous Peshkaar (introductory lilt composition) Relas (drum roll compositions) and Qaidas (poetic phrases). Because of lack of space on the disk, this is Part 1 of a 2 part Tabla solo recital.

"Mushtari" is an example of how a musician conquers obstacles in life where sheer virtuosity, mathematics and physical stamina play the mind, as combining two incredibly difficult tasks of playing Tabla and singing is unconventional in Indian music, and the fact that the art of the Classical tradition of Ghazal Gayaki (singing) is dying due to lack of patronage.

"At one point, the lyrics are sad, the tone tends to provide solace for some one who’s been searching for that one special thing to make life meaningful...a kind of journey, taking you into an unknown world where your strength is the universe." -  Geraldine Panapasa, writer for the Fiji Times,

The accompanying musicians are Amika Kushwaha on lead Harmonium (an ancient version of the French Accordion) Lavika Kushwaha on Taanmandal ( a stringed Indian version of the Harpsichord) on tracks 1-3, and Monica Koodoo on Taanmandal in Track 4.

Translations

Laaj Rakho Kartaar, Aaj mori

Keep my honour today, oh Almighty one!!

Tum bin mera, aur na koi

I have no one else but you

Saari umariyaa bhatkath khoi

I have been wandering aimlessly my entire life

He Jagpalaan Haar!!!

Oh, Master of the Universe!!!

Garch-e-Sau Baar  , gham-e-hijr se jaan guzri hein
 Phir bhi jo dil pe guzarni thii kahan guzri hein

I have drowned a hundred times waiting for you in the night of our union
only I know what I suffered in my heart

Aap Tehren hein to tehraa hein nizaam-e-aalam
 Aap guzren hein to ek mauj-e-rawah guzri hein

When you stop striding the entire universe stops functioning
when you start walking the universe follows you like the waves of the ocean

Hosh mein aye to batlaaen tera deewaana
Din guzari hein kahan raat kahaan guzri hein

when you have regained your senses, then tell me who is obsessed about you,
where have you spent your day, and where have you spent your night?

Mere Humnafas, mere Humnavah, Mujhe dost bann ke dagha na de

Mae hoon Dard-e-ishq se jaah balab, mujhe zindagi ki dua na de

 

oh my friend, my beloved, do not befriend me and then hurt me this way

I have suffered so much in love, please don't hurt me and pray for my long life

 

Mere Daagh-e-Dil se hein roshni, issi roshni se hein zindagi

Mujhe dar hein aye mere charaagar, yeh charagh tu hi bujhaa na de

 

in my wounded and broken heart there is a light and this is the light that lights my life

I am afraid, oh friend, that it is you will extinguish this candle out

 

Mera azm itna bulandh hein ke paraye sholon ka dar nahin

mujhe khauf Atish-e-Gul se hein, yeh kahin chamman ko jala na de

 

My reputation is so lofty I do not fear those who try and tarnish my reputation

but I am afraid of the flower of fire that conceals himself and will burn my garden down

Cassius Khan Links