Yogesh Samsi is a famous Indian tabla player who belongs to the Punjabi school (one of the six tabla playing styles). Yogesh Samsi was a disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha.
Wiki/Biography
Yogesh Samsi was born on Sunday, November 17, 1968 in New Delhi, India (age 54; as of 2023). His zodiac sign is Scorpio. He completed his formal education in New Delhi. Yogesh Samsi is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′6″
Hair color: salt and pepper (semi-bald)
Eye color: dark brown
family
Parents and siblings
Yogesh Samsi’s father, Pandit Dinkar Kaikini, was an Indian classical singer. He died in 2010 after a long illness. Yogesh Samsi’s mother, Shashikala Kaikina, is an Indian classical singer and tutor. His mother is the former principal of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Music School in Mumbai.
Yogesh Samsi’s father, Indian classical singer Pandit Dinkar Kaikini
Yogesh Samsi seeks blessings from mother Shashikala Kaikini
Yogesh Samsi has an older sister, Aditi Kaikini Upadhya, who is also an Indian classical singer and teacher.
Yogesh Samsi (left) and sister Aditi Kaikini Upadhya (right)
wife and children
Yogesh Samsi is married to Kavita Samsi. She is a housewife. The couple has two sons: Shravan Samsi and Avneesh Samsi. Shravan Samsi is a drummer and music producer. Avneesh Samsi is studying in Mumbai, India.
(Left to right) Kavita Samsi, Yogesh Samsi, Avneesh Samsi and Shravan Samsi
Profession
live performance
Yogesh Samsi has performed in various concerts in many countries including the United States, Canada, Japan and South Africa. Yogesh Samsi has performed at Kuwait International Music Festival (2010), Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan (2002-2012), Darbar Festival (UK, 2006-2012), Tansen Sangeet Samaroh (Gwalior – 2005), The Concert for the Concert for 2016 World Bank (Washington, DC – 2007) and Bangladesh Classical Music Festival. Yogesh Samsi also performed at the Sydney Opera House in 2012 and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC in 2007.
Yogesh Samsi performing live at Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan 2010
Yogesh Samsi performed live at Darbar Music Festival in the UK
Yogesh Samsi performing live at Tansen Sangeet Samaroh in 2005
television and radio
Yogesh Samsi has appeared on numerous television and radio programs such as BBC-UK, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Doordarshan (India), All India Radio (AIR-India), StarPlus India and Idea Jalsa India Zee TV.
record album
In 2005, Yogesh Samsi released his tabla solo album “Yogesh Samsi – The Tabla Series”. The album has 13 tracks in total.
Yogesh Samsi’s solo album “Yogesh Samsi- The Tabla Series”
In 2011, Yogesh Samsi collaborated with Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Master of Santur) on a collaborative album, The Raga Renaissance: Indian Classical Music Interpretations in Santur.
Yogesh Samsi collaboration album with Santoor guru Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Yogesh Samsi has collaborated on albums with many Indian classical musicians such as Ajoy Chakrabarty, Shahid Parvez, Ustad Vilayat Khan and Ustad Rashid Khan.
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- In 2017, Yogesh Samsi received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his contribution to Indian classical instrumental music.
Yogesh Samsi Receives 2019 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from then President Ram Nath Kovind
- In 2020, Yogesh Samsi was awarded the ‘Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar Sangatkar Puruskar’ award for his contribution to accompaniment and solo performance.
Favorites
- Musicians: Ustad Alla Rakha, Zakir Hussain and Ustad Shahid Parvez.
Facts/Trivia
- Yogesh Samsi started playing the tabla at the age of 4 with initial training from Pandit Taranath Rao.
- Yogesh Samsi used to accompany his mother Shashikala Kaikini on her show to learn and understand the basics of rhythm and Indian classical singing.
- Yogesh Samsi began his professional training at the age of 10 under the tutelage of Ustad Alla Rakha. He trained under Ustad Alla Rakha for 23 years.
- Yogesh Samsi is a member of the Advisory Board of the Music Department, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), Pune, Maharashtra, India.
- Yogesh Samsi is a member of Saaz Music, a British independent Indian classical music organization.
- Yogesh Samsi is the Chief Advisor for Indian Classical Music Educational Activities and Promotion at Darbar Arts and Cultural Heritage Trust, a renowned music organization.
- In 2017, Yogesh Samsi, along with other Indian classical artists such as Pandit Suresh Talwalkar (tabla master) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (flute player), was named “Master” at India’s largest Gurukul Vishwashanti Sangeet Kala Academy, run by The MIT Group runs the institute in Pune.
- Yogesh Samsi conducts online and offline seminars and teaches to students from all over the world.
Yogesh Samsi (yellow) in his studio in Mumbai
- Yogesh Samsi has collaborated with many renowned artists such as Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Master of Sarod), Pandit Amjad Ali Khan (Master of Sarod), Anindo Chatterjee (Master of Tabla), Pandit Dinkar Kaikini (Master of Indian classical singer), Pandit Birju Maharaj (Indian Kathak dancer) and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
(Left to Right) Yogesh Samsi, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Ajoy Chakrabarty and Shashikala Kaikini
Live performance by Yogesh Samsi and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Yogesh Samsi and Pandit Shivkumar Sharma
Yogesh Samsi and tabla guru Anindo Chatterjee (right)
Yogesh Samsi with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (right) at his home in 1994
Yogesh Samsi and legendary Indian dancer Pandit Birju Maharaj (left)
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education