Cassius Khan Bio & Career Highlights
CASSIUS KHAN is a master performer and exponent of Ghazal Gayaki, an important genre of Indian classical singing. He is the sole disciples of the late Malika e Tarranum Mushtari Begum ( Dec 25th 1934 - March 14th 2004) and Tabla Ustad Rukhsar Ali.
A charismatic personality both on and off stage, Cassius is the only professional performing artist in the world who can execute highly skilled Tabla compositions and sing Ghazals simultaneously. His talent has stunned audiences since most Ghazalists play harmonium. Combining Indian classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music and many music maestros have proclaimed that singing and playing tabla in unison is a near impossible feat to master.
Among many of his accomplishments, Khan was awarded the “Salute for Excellence” Award from the City of Edmonton in 2005, has been featured at AlbertaScene in Ottawa (2005), co-composed the “Asia Music” segment in the 2001 World Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, Alberta.
Khan also made history as the very first Indian Ghazal/Tabla maestro to be invited to perform at the 2008 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas and Canadian Music Week (2009). His concerts have been consistently received with packed halls and rave reviews.
Khan has performed extensively internationally, and collaborated with Grammy Award winning artist Mohan Veena player Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Satvick Veena player Salil Bhatt, guitarist Ellen McIlwaine, Pianist Stu Goldberg and Guitarist Dave Martone.
Cassius Khan is featured on Ellen McIlwaine’s recent release “Mystic Bridge” (2006), on Stu Goldberg’s “Dark Clouds” (2006) album, two of Dave Martone’s albums, “A Demon’s Dream” (2004) and “The Alchemists” (2004), and recently on ROAM’s new album, “Baby Steps” 2008.
Khan also has hundreds of students around the world who learn Ghazal singing and Tabla from him, and teaches when he is off the touring season. He is married to acclaimed Kathak Dancer/ Harmonium player Amika Kushwaha, and they reside in New Westminster, Canada.
Career Highlights
World Track & Field Championships (Edmonton 2001) - Composer
Alberta Scene ( Ottawa 2005) - First ever Indian Classical Musician in the festival
Salmon Arm Folk Festival ( Salmon Arm BC 2006) First ever Ghazal/Tabla Solo performance in a Canadian Folk Festival
SXSW Festival ( Austin Texas 2008) - First solo Ghazal/Tabla artist to be featured in the history of the festival
Canada Music Week ( Toronto 2009) – First solo Ghazal/Tabla artist to be featured in the history of the festival
Salute to Excellence Award from the City of Edmonton for bringing honour and prestige to the City
Selected Collaborations to Date
Amika Kushwaha (Kathak Dance, Vocal & Tabla)
Pt. Salil Bhatt (Satvick Veena)
Pt. Vishwa Mohan Bhatt (Mohan Veena)
Ust. Majid Qiyam (Rubab)
Mihirangi (Singer/Songwriter)
Mel M Abret (Oud)
LAL ( Electronica)
Rachelle Van Zanten (Singer/Songwriter)
Ust. Aashish Khan Debsharma (Sarode)
Ust. Mehdi Hassan (Ghazal)
Don Alder (Guitarist)
Stu Goldberg (Pianist)
Dave Martone (Guitar)
Sal Farerras ( Percussionist)
Maeve McKinnon ( Scottish Singer/Songwriter)
Ellen McIlwaine ( Slide Guitar)
Doug Cox (Dobro)
Kita No Taiko (Japanese Drum Troupe)
Anuj Rastogi (World Fusion Composer)
Album Discography/Release Credits:
Mushtari: Classical Ghazals Live – Cassius Khan (2010) Nominated for 2011 World Album of the Year by the WCMA
Sparks of Energy- A Live Tabla Solo Recital - Cassius Khan with Amika Kushwaha on Lehra/Lavika Kushwaha on Taanmandal
Dark Matter – Anuj Rastogi (2009)
Bocephus King – Bocephus King (2009)
Points of Departure – ROAM (2009)
Maitrie – Laurie Madison & Massaisis (2009)
Tekatie – Ted & Katie Schumaker (2007)
Dark Clouds - Stu Goldberg and Cassius Khan (2006)
Mystic Bridge - Ellen McIlwaine with Cassius Khan (2006 and JUNO Nomination 2007)
The Alchemists - 27 Tracks of Guitar Wizardry, Dave Martone, (2002)
I Feel Love Again - Pavlo (2002)
A Demon's Dream - Dave Martone (2002)
Mani Licks - Dan Mani with Cassius Khan (2002)
Angel of Sevilla – D'Arcy Greaves, with Cassius Khan (1995)
Selected Reviews:
“His technique runs rings around Ringo...”
Eye Weekly Magazine
“His personality and aura is breathtaking when he comes to the stage, when he sings, it is divine, when he plays, there is thunder, a real phenomenon...This is Cassius Khan...”
- Apna Roots, Vancouver
“Khan is a truly complete musician, a tabla wizard, or as a festival reviewer put it, a “Tabla Tornado..”
- ejazznews.net
“...Cassius Khan is one of the best multi talented musicians in the world,a class of his own, with a unique and incredible tabla and singing style.He’s the only one on the entire planet who can play tablas and sing at the same time!”
- ejazznews.net
“…Cassius Khan is an uncanny musician with incredible mastery of the tabla and his voice...a real phenomena of Indian Classical music…”
- Asian Times
“If Cassius Khan is any example, the next generation of Canada’s world music artists will be well prepared to explore truly multi-faceted careers.”
- the Edmonton Journal
“An incredible tabla wizard, vocal sensation..his hands dance on the tabla with awesome power..what a powerful stage presence!”
- Planet A A J
Additional Credits
Album Discography/Release Credits
Mushtari: Classical Ghazals Live – Cassius Khan (2009 TBR)
Dark Matter – Anuj Rastogi (2009)
Bocephus King – Bocephus King (2009)
Points of Departure – ROAM (2009)
Maitrie – Laurie Madison & Massaisis (2009)
Tekatie – Ted & Katie Schumaker (2007)
Dark Clouds - Stu Goldberg and Cassius Khan (2006)
Mystic Bridge - Ellen McIlwaine with Cassius Khan (2006 and JUNO Nomination 2007)
The Alchemists - 27 Tracks of Guitar Wizardry, Dave Martone, (2002)
I Feel Love Again - Pavlo (2002)
A Demon’s Dream - Dave Martone (2002)
Mani Licks - Dan Mani with Cassius Khan (2002)
Angel of Sevilla – D’Arcy Greaves, with Cassius Khan (1995)
Cassius Khan - Young Tabla Wizard - MHK/HMV India (1987)
Selected Live Performances
Vancouver Folk Festival 2011
Chicago World Music festival 2010
Ottawa Blues Fastival 2010
Omnesia – Live! (Toronto, 2009)
Canada Music Week (Toronto, 2009)
Mosaic Festival (Toronto 2009)
Surrey Indian Music Festival (Surrey BC, 2009)
Vancouver Island Music Festival (Comox BC, 2008)
SXSW Festival (Austin TX, 2008)
Robson Valley Music Festival (Dunster BC, 2008)
Sooke River Festival (Sooke River BC, 2008)
JUNO Awards (Calgary, 2008)
Saskatoon Blues Festival (Saskatoon, 2008)
Raag Rang: An Evening of Ghazals with Cassius Khan (Toronto, July 2007)
Indian Electronica Festival (Toronto, July 2007)
Vancouver Jazz Festival (Vancouver, 2007)
Halifax Jazz Festival (Halifax NS, 2007)
Canso Music Festival (Nova Scotia, 2007)
PEI Jazz Festival (Prince Edward Island, 2007)
Kaslo Jazz Festival (Kaslo BC, 2006)
Calgary Folk Festival (Calgary 2006)
Harrison Hot Springs Festival (BC, 2006)
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival (Salmon Arm BC, 2006)
Alberta Scene Festival (Ottawa, 2005)
Edmonton Folk Festival (Edmonton, 2005)
Winspear Theatre Edmonton 2004
Roy Thompson Hall (Toronto, 2003)
Ombeance (Edmonton, 2003)
UK Solo Tour (London, Leeds, Birmingham & Bratford UK, 1989)
European Solo Performances (Amsterdam, Stuttgard, 1990)
Carnegie Hall (New York, 1988)
Press Coverage & Broadcast
Selected Awards
Canada Council of the Arts grant (2009)
City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence (2005)
Sitara Award (1988)
Top Indian Musician Award MK Int’l (1987-2000)
Selected Radio Coverage
CBC Radio 2 (Canada)
All India Radio (India)
BBC Asian Network (FM in UK, International Online)
BBC Radio 3
Radio Neckar (Stuttgard, Germany)
Indian Electronica Radio (Online, International)
Radio CKER 101.7 World FM (Edmonton)
Radio CKUA (Edmonton)
630 Ched (Edmonton)
Radio Punjab ( Vancouver)
Globalvortexradio.com (Berlin, International)
Koop Radio 91.7FM (Austin, TX)
HUM FM Radio 101.3 (Toronto)
Play Radio UK (United Kingdom)
Ethnotechno Radio (US/International)
Indianelectronica Radio (International)
Magazine/Newspaper/Online
The Edmonton Journal (Edmonton)
The Edmonton Sun (Edmonton)
The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver)
Fiji Times ( Fiji Islands)
Mehfil Magazine ( Vancouver)
Eye Magazine (Toronto)
Apna Roots (Vancouver)
See Magazine (Edmonton)
The Georgia Straight (Edmonton)
Salmon Arm Newsweekly (Salmon Arm BC)
The Hindu (India)
ANC Newsletter (New Zealand)
Selected Television Appearances
Jai Fiji TV
Voice of Fiji TV
A Channel TV Edmonton
Global Channel, Edmonton
TV Asia Toronto
ATN Toronto
Chaitaime TV Vancouver
Fiji TV Fiji Islands
Contact Info
Cassius Khan
#51 – 935 Ewen Avenue
New Westminster, BC, Canada, V3M 031
Email: cassius@cassiuskhan.com
Web: www.cassiuskhan.com
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