"Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das"
Ritesh Das
17 episodes
2 months ago
I like to hear from you Tabla study is more than learning rhythms — it’s a complete training for attention, memory, timing, and pattern thinking. In this episode, I share what tabla is, how it’s learned through an oral tradition, and how speaking, playing, and listening work together to shape the mind. I talk about my own path from Kolkata to North America, the early challenges of introducing tabla to new audiences, and how years of collaboration with artists from taiko, flamenco, jazz...
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I like to hear from you Tabla study is more than learning rhythms — it’s a complete training for attention, memory, timing, and pattern thinking. In this episode, I share what tabla is, how it’s learned through an oral tradition, and how speaking, playing, and listening work together to shape the mind. I talk about my own path from Kolkata to North America, the early challenges of introducing tabla to new audiences, and how years of collaboration with artists from taiko, flamenco, jazz...
I like to hear from you Tabla study is more than learning rhythms — it’s a complete training for attention, memory, timing, and pattern thinking. In this episode, I share what tabla is, how it’s learned through an oral tradition, and how speaking, playing, and listening work together to shape the mind. I talk about my own path from Kolkata to North America, the early challenges of introducing tabla to new audiences, and how years of collaboration with artists from taiko, flamenco, jazz...
I like to hear from you In this episode, Ritesh Das explores the often overlooked art of listening—through the lens of a tabla class. From childhood instinct to adult distraction, from classroom interruptions to moments of deep focus, he walks through how real listening is not just a musical technique—it’s a life skill. Drawing from decades of teaching and a story from his own guru Shankar Ghosh, Ritesh shows how listening with full attention can lead to joy, growth, and clarity—on the drums ...
I like to hear from you In this episode, Ritesh Das talks about how learning tabla can become a meaningful part of your life. From the first sounds and rhythms to deeper stillness and self-awareness, he shares how daily practice supports balance, focus, and clarity. Whether you're a musician or not, this episode explores how tabla can help you stay grounded in a fast-paced world—through breath, repetition, and honest discipline. #Tabla #Vedanta #ConsciousLiving #IndianClassicalMusic #Spiritu...
I like to hear from you Not every student wants the stage. And not every great player ends up on one. In this episode, Ritesh Das reflects on a quieter kind of journey in the world of tabla—one not measured by applause or public recognition. Through personal stories from Kolkata, Toronto, and decades of teaching, he honours the students who showed up week after week, not for performance, but for depth. Mothers who watched. Adults who played after work. Disciples who returned after years away....
I like to hear from you What if the joy you’re chasing isn’t really joy? In this episode, Ritesh Das explores the quiet truth behind lasting joy—not the kind that comes from applause or outcomes, but the kind born from presence, practice, and deep inner alignment. Drawing from Vedantic teachings, daily discipline, and a life shaped by sound, he reflects on how real joy begins only after you’ve unlearned the noise and remembered your Swadharma—your true rhythm, not the world’s formula. There’s...
I like to hear from you In this powerful follow-up to Episode 12 (What is a Guru), Ritesh Das dives into the difficult but necessary topic of false Gurus—and the lessons they leave behind. Drawing from Vedic roots and personal experience, he explores how false teachers appear in many forms: not just in ashrams, but in friendships, spiritual circles, relationships, and leadership roles. What happens when guidance turns into control? When surrender becomes manipulation? This episode isn’t about...
I like to hear from you Episode 11: What Is a Guru—Really? In this episode, I return to the source. Not to talk about gurus as personalities or institutions—but to ask: What does the word “Guru” actually mean? And how has that meaning changed—and been misused—over time? Starting from the Vedas, through lived experience, and into the role of the śiṣya (student), I share what I’ve learned over a lifetime of study, teaching, and unlearning. This episode includes: The original Vedic ...
I like to hear from you “Because That’s What This Is” is a raw, unfiltered reflection from the heart of Ritesh Das—composer, tabla teacher, founder of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble, and lifelong seeker. This podcast is not about performance. It’s not for promotion. It’s a return. Through spontaneous conversation, memory, and deep truth-telling, Ritesh revisits the moments that shaped his path—from the purity of sound in empty rooms to the pressures of the music industry, from backstage whispers ...
I like to hear from you In this episode, I dive into the contrast between live performance and studio recording—two different experiences that shape the way we create and hear music. 🎵 Live vs. Studio: What’s gained, what’s lost—does one capture more soul than the other? 🛕 The Oral Tradition: In Indian classical music, we internalize and master compositions before performing—but how does this influence the transition from stage to studio? 🎻 Orchestration & Overdubbing: With limited fundin...
I like to hear from youIn this reflective episode of Tabla Beyond Borders with Ritesh Das, we welcome Isabelle Delaney from Montreal, a gifted percussionist whose journey with tabla and congas offers profound insights into life and balance. Through Ritesh's teaching philosophy—rooted in ear training and recitation—Isabelle discovered not only rhythm but also a deeper sense of harmony in her musical and personal life.Together, they explore how the principles of focus, balance, and melodic expr...
I like to hear from youJoin Ritesh Das in this compelling episode of "Tabla Beyond Borders," where he explores the transformative power of sound meditation through tabla. Discover how the focused meditation of sound not only enhances musical artistry but also serves as a profound tool for visualization and personal growth.Ritesh shares insights into the role visualization has played in his journey and the growth of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble. Learn how the disciplined practice of tabla transc...
I like to hear from youIn this episode of "Tabla Beyond Borders," I reflect on the immense influence of Legendary Zakir Hussain, a virtuoso whose mastery of tabla has touched countless lives, including my own. My encounters with Zakir Bhai, though brief, were profound, offering lessons that resonate with me to this day. His connections with my family, particularly through my brother, the legendary Kathak dancer Pandit Chitresh Das, also highlight the deep musical and personal bonds that shape...
I like to hear from youIn this episode, I delve into the profound impact of my time with the Aman Folk Ensemble, a pivotal chapter that shaped my musical perspective and approach. Join me as I recount the rich experiences of touring across the USA, from the bustling streets of major cities to the serene landscapes of Alaska, exploring the diversity of American communities and their cultural expressions. I'll share insights into the backstage jams and the variety of traditional instruments and...
I like to hear from youIn the latest episode of 'Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das,' I share the story of my special collaboration with Kiyoshi Nagata on the piece Sare Panch with Taiko drums.Collaboration, to me, is like a relationship—an ongoing journey that deepens as we grow. Kiyoshi and I started working together when I was in my thirties and he in his late twenties. Now, at age 67, the maturity we've gained adds new depth to our music.Sare Panch reflects thi...
I like to hear from youIn this episode of “Tabla Beyond Borders,” I explore the profound connection between tabla compositions and the rhythms of daily life. At the heart of tabla lies the concept of theme, variation, and Tihai—a structure that mirrors the way we navigate our own journeys.Themes represent the foundations of our lives—the steady routines and patterns we rely on. Variations embody the challenges, opportunities, and creativity that emerge when life disrupts these patterns, calli...
I like to hear from youTradition to Innovation—Planting the Seed for CreativityIn this episode, Ritesh Das delves into the roots of his innovative approach to tabla through the lens of his teaching. Drawing from traditional tabla compositions, Ritesh explains how the phrasing and essence of these age-old patterns serve as the seeds for new creative expressions and musical innovation. Listeners will discover how tradition becomes a catalyst for creativity, bridging the past and the present to ...
I like to hear from youIn this inaugural episode, Ritesh Das takes listeners on a heartfelt journey into the origins of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE). Discover the vision and passion that led him to establish TTE in 1991, and how he set out to introduce and blend the art of tabla with diverse musical genres and cultures. At a time when few in Toronto, Canada, even knew what tabla was, forming an ensemble and building awareness posed significant challenges. Ritesh shares personal stories of...
"Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das"
I like to hear from you Tabla study is more than learning rhythms — it’s a complete training for attention, memory, timing, and pattern thinking. In this episode, I share what tabla is, how it’s learned through an oral tradition, and how speaking, playing, and listening work together to shape the mind. I talk about my own path from Kolkata to North America, the early challenges of introducing tabla to new audiences, and how years of collaboration with artists from taiko, flamenco, jazz...
