Keshav Sathe
Encyclopedia
Keshav Sathe is an Indian tabla
player, best-known for his contributions to the Indo-Jazz Fusion genre. Among his significant collaborations er the ones with Joe Harriott
and John Mayer
in 1965-70; Irene Schweizer trio
, Barney Wilen
and Manfred Schoof
in 1967; and later work with John Renbourn
, Danny Thompson
and Julie Felix
.
Sathe was born in Bombay, where he began his professional career in 1951, working with a local Indian vocalist by the name of Kelkar. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1956, and joined a group formed by Ayana Deva Angadi, known as the Asian Music Circle. He worked with visiting Indian sitarist Bhaskar Chandavarkar
, and in 1961 they played together with the harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler
. This was Sathe’s first contact with jazz.
In 1965 Sathe began his Indo Jazz Fusion performances and recordings with John Mayer and Joe Harriott, a musical relationship that lasted until 1970. In 1967 he was invited with his trio (with Diwan Motihar, sitar, and Kasan Thakur, tamboura) to join the trio of jazz pianist Irène Schweizer (together with Barney Willen, Mani Neumeier,Uli Trepte and Manfred Schoof). They appeared at the Donaueschingen Festival and Berlin Jazz Tage. The album “Jazz Meets India” was recorded in Villingen (Black Forest).
From 1970–73 he worked and toured with Julie Felix and Danny Thompson. Through Danny, in 1974, he joined the revised Pentangle group with John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee
and Tony Roberts
, touring UK, Europe and US, and producing records, including “Maid in Bedlam” and “Enchanted Garden“.
In the 1980s, Sathe formed a group with Tony Roberts which included the dancer Shobhana Jeyasingh, and toured UK and Northern Ireland. With the singer Alisha Sufit
and group, he made the record “Magic Carpet”. From 1965–1993 he regularly accompanied the late singer/dancer Surya Kumari in recitals and teaching workshops.
Apart from these, Kesh has made numerous incidental recordings, worked for television, radio, and taught tabla until 2003.
and John Mayer
With Irene Schweizer
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
player, best-known for his contributions to the Indo-Jazz Fusion genre. Among his significant collaborations er the ones with Joe Harriott
Joe Harriott
Joseph Arthurlin 'Joe' Harriott was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone....
and John Mayer
John Mayer (composer)
John Mayer was an Indian composer known primarily for his fusions of jazz with Indian music...
in 1965-70; Irene Schweizer trio
Irène Schweizer
Irène Schweizer is a notable Swiss jazz and free improvising pianist. She was born in Schaffhausen, in 1941.She has performed and recorded numerous solo piano performances as well as performing as part of the Feminist Improvising Group, whose members include Lindsay Cooper, Maggie Nichols, Georgie...
, Barney Wilen
Barney Wilen
Barney Wilen was a French tenor and soprano saxophonist and jazz composer.Wilen was born in Nice; his father was an American dentist turned inventor, and his mother was French. He began performing in clubs in Nice after being encouraged by Blaise Cendrars who was a friend of his mother...
and Manfred Schoof
Manfred Schoof
Manfred Schoof is a German jazz trumpet player.He studied music in Kassel and Cologne.He is a founder of European free jazz and collaborated with Albert Mangelsdorff, Peter Brötzmann, Mal Waldron, and Irène Schweizer...
in 1967; and later work with John Renbourn
John Renbourn
John Renbourn is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is possibly best known for his collaboration with guitarist Bert Jansch as well as his work with the folk group Pentangle, although he maintained a solo career before, during and after that band's existence .While most commonly labelled a...
, Danny Thompson
Danny Thompson
Daniel Henry Edward 'Danny' Thompson is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist and businessman...
and Julie Felix
Julie Felix
Julie Ann Felix is a folk rock recording artist, who was notably produced by Mickie Most on his RAK Records label.-Career:...
.
Sathe was born in Bombay, where he began his professional career in 1951, working with a local Indian vocalist by the name of Kelkar. He moved to the United Kingdom in 1956, and joined a group formed by Ayana Deva Angadi, known as the Asian Music Circle. He worked with visiting Indian sitarist Bhaskar Chandavarkar
Bhaskar Chandavarkar
Bhaskar Chandavarkar was an Indian sitar player, academic and film and theatre composer who worked with directors of Indian cinema, in various languages including Marathi, Hindi, Kannada and Malayalam, Mrinal Sen, Girish Karnad, Aparna Sen and Amol Palekar and was known for his blending of Indian...
, and in 1961 they played together with the harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler
Larry Adler
Lawrence "Larry" Cecil Adler was an American musician, widely acknowledged as one of the world's most skilled harmonica players. Composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Malcolm Arnold, Darius Milhaud and Arthur Benjamin composed works for him...
. This was Sathe’s first contact with jazz.
In 1965 Sathe began his Indo Jazz Fusion performances and recordings with John Mayer and Joe Harriott, a musical relationship that lasted until 1970. In 1967 he was invited with his trio (with Diwan Motihar, sitar, and Kasan Thakur, tamboura) to join the trio of jazz pianist Irène Schweizer (together with Barney Willen, Mani Neumeier,Uli Trepte and Manfred Schoof). They appeared at the Donaueschingen Festival and Berlin Jazz Tage. The album “Jazz Meets India” was recorded in Villingen (Black Forest).
From 1970–73 he worked and toured with Julie Felix and Danny Thompson. Through Danny, in 1974, he joined the revised Pentangle group with John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee
Jacqui McShee
thumb|300px|right|Jacqui McShee performing with [[Pentangle]] at the 2007 [[BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards]]Jacqueline 'Jacqui' McShee is an English singer. Since 1966 she has performed with Pentangle, a jazz influenced folk rock band.-Biography:McShee's musical career began as a soloist in British folk...
and Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts may refer to:*Tony Roberts , American actor*Tony Roberts , British author of the Casca series *Tony Roberts , Welsh football player...
, touring UK, Europe and US, and producing records, including “Maid in Bedlam” and “Enchanted Garden“.
In the 1980s, Sathe formed a group with Tony Roberts which included the dancer Shobhana Jeyasingh, and toured UK and Northern Ireland. With the singer Alisha Sufit
Alisha Sufit
Alisha Sufit is best known as the singer-songwriter with the 1970s band Magic Carpet. She is also a visual artist and poet....
and group, he made the record “Magic Carpet”. From 1965–1993 he regularly accompanied the late singer/dancer Surya Kumari in recitals and teaching workshops.
Apart from these, Kesh has made numerous incidental recordings, worked for television, radio, and taught tabla until 2003.
Select Discography
With Joe HarriottJoe Harriott
Joseph Arthurlin 'Joe' Harriott was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone....
and John Mayer
John Mayer (composer)
John Mayer was an Indian composer known primarily for his fusions of jazz with Indian music...
- Indo Jazz Fusions (Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
)
With Irene Schweizer
Irène Schweizer
Irène Schweizer is a notable Swiss jazz and free improvising pianist. She was born in Schaffhausen, in 1941.She has performed and recorded numerous solo piano performances as well as performing as part of the Feminist Improvising Group, whose members include Lindsay Cooper, Maggie Nichols, Georgie...
- Jazz Meets India (Polydor RecordsPolydor RecordsPolydor is a record label owned by Universal Music Group, headquartered in the United Kingdom.-Beginnings:Polydor was originally an independent branch of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. Its name was first used as an export label in 1924, the British and German branches of the Gramophone...
)