معرفی
Abhiman Kaushal serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Ethnomusicology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He has been on the faculty at UCLA since 1998, where he teaches tabla to students across the campus. As Co-Director of the Music of India Ensemble, Kaushal plays a significant role in UCLA's ethnomusicology program, bringing his extensive performance experience into the academic setting.
Professor Kaushal specializes in Indian classical music, particularly as a master tabla artist representing the Farukkabad, Lucknow, and Ajrara gharanas (schools) of tabla. His research interests encompass the theoretical and practical dimensions of Hindustani classical music, rhythmic structures in Indian music, cross-cultural musical collaborations, and the role of percussion in traditional and contemporary musical contexts. His work bridges performance practice with academic study, focusing on how traditional Indian musical forms interact with global musical traditions. Kaushal's lineage as a musician informs his scholarly approach, having been initiated by his father R.B. Kaushal and trained by renowned masters including Ustad Sheikh Dawood and Pandit B. Nandkumar.
Analysis of Kaushal's creative outputs reveals a consistent trajectory of blending traditional Indian musical forms with contemporary global expressions. His work spans traditional classical performances, cross-cultural collaborations, documentary soundtracks, and innovative theatrical productions. The recordings demonstrate increasing experimentation with fusion elements while maintaining deep respect for traditional tabla techniques. His Grammy-winning work with White Sun represents the culmination of decades of artistic development, merging yogic traditions with contemporary musical sensibilities.
Kaushal has received significant recognition for his musical contributions, most notably a Grammy Award for his work on White Sun II in the New Age Music category. His recording Delbar/Saffron, created with Ustad Shujaat Khan and Katayoun Goudarzi, was short-listed for a Grammy nomination. These accolades highlight his standing as a respected figure in both traditional Indian music and contemporary cross-genre collaborations.
As an educator, Kaushal has mentored numerous students in the art of tabla playing at UCLA. His teaching approach combines rigorous technical training with deep cultural understanding, passing on traditions he learned from his father R.B. Kaushal and renowned teachers including Ustad Sheikh Dawood and Pandit B. Nandkumar of Hyderabad. His performances with legendary artists such as Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, and Hari Prasad Chaurasia provide rich experiential knowledge that informs his pedagogy. Kaushal's international performance career, spanning venues across five continents, has established him as a globally recognized tabla artist who bridges academic scholarship with professional artistry.
