Umashankar Shukla:Notes Of Eternity On The Sitar
The perfect amalgamation of high skill, passion and tradition makes Umashankar Shukla one of the most evocative Sitarists active today. The way he blends his artistry into elevating musical compositions with his intricate alaap, meend, taans, is for keeps and a music lovers delight.
Perfectly at home in a studio or a live baithak, he has regularly won the appreciation of first-time listeners and the wah wahs of the most seasoned ones across the Indian diaspora.
Groomed into the mesmerizing world of the Sitar at an early age by his father and Guru Pandit Krishna Kumar Shukla, in the Kirana Gharana style, Umashankar Shukla has performed as a solo artist for over six decades on television and radio.
A true-blue musician, it is said, even if an instrumentalist, should be grounded in vocal music. Umashankar, blessed with a dulcet voice, has composed and lent his voice to devotional numbers in Gujarati and Hindi and often gets that Gayaki element into his Sitar adding allure to many melodies.
One of the most amazing features of his playing is his ability to play Sitar in different scales- a clear testimony of the abhyas, and dedication he has shown towards his instrument.
With a playing style that envelopes in its embrace the introspection and the exuberance of the instrument, Umashankar’s Sitar has graced the melodies of celebrated composers like Lakshmikant Pyarelal, Kalyanji Anandji,Bappi Lahiri Anand Milind, Ajay Atul among others. Touring widely with music shows across the world, his Sitar has contributed to the embellishment of over 12000 music albums.
Umashankar’s Sitar has been crafted by the celebrated Sitar maker Hemen Chandra Sen or Hemen & Co from Kolkata. The maker who is rightly regarded as the light house of traditional Indian instrument making, has handcrafted Umashankars unique Sitar to the artists specifications. Now over 50 years old the Sitar maintains its resonant tonal finesse and enchants all.
