Shashank Subramanyam

Shashank Subramanyam
Background information
Birth name Shashank Subramanyam
Born Rudrapatna, India
Genres Carnatic music
Occupation(s) Musician / instrumentalist
Instruments Venu flute
Years active 1984–present
Website shashank.org

Shashank Subramanyam is a Grammy-nominated renowned exponent of the Bamboo Flute from India and specialises in Indian Classical Music.[1] He was a child prodigy and began performing from his age of 6 in 1984 and has performed in the top concert circuit for over three decades.

Early life

Shashank Subramanyam was born in Rudrapatna, India, to Hemalatha and Prof. Subramanyam. His forefathers belong to Tirunelveli dist of Tamil Nadu. He was trained by his father and by vocalists R.K. Srikantan, Palghat K.V. Narayanaswami, and Hindustani music under Pandit Jasraj.[2] Shashank is married to Shirisha, a Bharatanatyam dancer. Shashank and Shirisha have a daughter Swara and son Samvit and live in Chennai, India.[3]

Performing career

Shashank performed for the general public in 1984 for the first time at the age of 6.

A young Shashank at his Eight – 1986
A ten year old Shashank photographed by Times of India, Bangalore

Shashank began performing at the top circuit in 1990 with major performances in Adelaide, Australia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Singapore followed by his major performance at Shastri hall in Dec 1990.[4] His career-defining moment came when the Music Academy invited Shashank, just 12 years old, to perform in the senior most performance slot "SADAS concert" at The Music Academy, Chennai 1 January 1991.

Shashank Subramanyam performing the Sadas concert at The Music Academy. 1 Jan 1991

Shashank has worked extensively presenting collaborative performances with host of musicians from India and around the world including John McLaughlin, Paco de Lucia, Wuppertal and Shanxi Symphony Orchestras, The New Jungle Orchestra, Mikkel Nordso, Terry Riley, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Zakir Hussain, Ustad Sultan Khan, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ronu Mazumdar, Ustad Shujaat Khan,[5] and Debu Choudhury.

Shashank performs in a wide range of concert environments from the pure Indian classical, Symphonies, Jazz, Films and crossover projects. He has led many ensembles and also has been a guest artist on many famed bands like Remember Shakti, New Jungle Orchestra, Blue Lotus, etc.

Style

Specialized in Carnatic classical and trained in Hindustani Classical music, he incorporates patterns of improvisation from both systems of Music from India and uses a range of flutes to cover octaves that are not supported by the traditional Carnatic flute. Shashank is known for his intricate (Improvisations), melodious keerthana ( composition) renderings and pulsating kalpanaswaram (Faster and rhythmic improvisations). His concerts generally include a Ragam Tanam Pallavi as a central piece, normally composed by Shashank himself.[6]

The BBC World TV did a documentary on Shashank titled Destination Music, recently.

Pandit Ravishankar, Balamuralikrishna, Shashank

Awards and recognition

  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award by Govt of India for the year 2017
  • Grammy Nomination for the album Floating Point with John McLaughlin – 2009
  • Kalaimamani' the state award / title from the Tamil Nadu Government in the year 2001.
  • Empaneled artist of the ICCR under Outstanding and senior category since 1995.
  • The National Integration Award ( Spirit of Unity series) – 1991
  • Asthana Vidwan of Sringeri Mutt, by His Holiness Shankaracharya of Sringeri, Karnataka – May 2000
  • Sawai Gandharva Festival-Pune

Shashank was awarded a direct A" Grade ranking in the All India Radio and Doordarshan (TV) at his age of 13.

Shashank in performance with Ustad Zakir Hussain – Tabla – 2007
ShashankwithBhimsenJoshi
Shashank at Saptak Festival, Ahmedabad
Shashank at Theater De La Ville, Paris
Shashank at Fes Festival, Morocco

Discography

He has released over 70CDs and 10 DVDs.

  • Charukeshi - 2016
  • Shashank with Sai Symphony - CD 2015
  • Shashank with Sai Symphony - DVD 2015
  • Seven Continents - Cross over CD with Shashank and Mikkel Nordso - 2015
  • Spirit of Krishna – Shashank and the Folk Musicians of Rajasthan – 2012
  • Shashank, John Sund and Phalgun – Trio Indo Danish jazz CD 2011
  • Gambian Nights - India African collaboration with Kora Player Dawda - 2011
  • RoR Touch Part 2- a Fusion album – EMI / India Beat Records – 2008
  • Sundara – DVD – 2010
  • Mohana – DVD- 2010
  • Sundara – CD – 2010
  • Mohana – CD – 2010
  • Live at the Playhouse – Copenhagen Jazz Festival – Jazz CD – 2009
  • RoR Touch – a Fusion album – EMI / India Beat Records – 2008
  • Floating Point with Legendary Guitarist John McLaughlin
  • Bindumalini
  • Josh – Live concert held at Saptak, Ahmedabad – CD 1
  • Josh – Live concert held at Saptak, Ahmedabad – CD 2
  • Utsav – Celebrations of Indian Classical Music – Shashank by Music Today – DVD – 2007
  • Enchanting Hamsadhwani
  • Utsav – Music Today Masters of Indian Music – DVD intro by Pandit Jasraj
  • Raag Lathangi
  • Rasayana – Flute and Sitar in a dialogue – CD 1, CD 2
  • Margazhi Melodies – Live Concert 2004 – CD 1, CD 2
  • Kalarasana – Live in Chennai – CD 1, CD 2, CD 3
  • MOKSHA – Salvation
  • FLIGHTS OF ECSTASY – 2005
  • INTUITVE MINDS- The lute and Bamboo in a dialogue – CD 1, CD 2
  • KRISHNA SMARANAM – DVD
  • ANUBHAV – DVD
  • KRISHNA SMARANAM – CD 1, CD 2
  • PULLANKUZHAL OF SOUTH INDIA – KING RECORDS
  • MUSIC ACADEMY, MADRAS – CD 1, CD 2, CD 3
  • SAMMILAN – North and South in a melting pot
  • MEDITATIVE SPELL
  • THE BAMBOO IN A DIALOGUE
  • MOONLIT MELODIES – MUSIC TODAY
  • FLUTE FANTASIA – NAVRAS RECORDS
  • REMINISCENCE OF BRINDAVAN
  • MOMENTS OF ECSTASY – CD 1, CD 2
  • God has many names – Swiss text book CD – 1995
  • Endless beauties from the Bamboo – 1994 – CD 1, CD 2
  • Melodies from the Bamboo Flute – CD 1 and 2 – 1993
  • Melodies from the Bamboo Flutes – Album 2 – 1992
  • Melodies from the Bamboo Flutes – Album 1 – 1991

References

  1. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/ms/2006/01/10/stories/2006011000240400.htm
  2. ↑ http://www.shashank.org/images/pressclips/thehindu2009innovativejourney.htm
  3. ↑ http://www.narthaki.com/info/reviews/rev302.html
  4. ↑ http://www.shashank.org/images/pressclips/th90.jpg
  5. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  6. ↑ http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2004/01/02/stories/2004010201911000.htm
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