Classical maestros and percussion virtuosos Bickram Ghosh and Taufig Qureshi recently brought a fusion of rhythmic sounds and cultural concepts to Delhi, as they launched their album RamTa: Masters of Rhythm at the India Habitat Centre.
The evening began with Ghosh and Qureshi engaging in an impromptu jam, exchanging rhythmic syllables before picking up their instruments for a series of jugalbandis (musical duels). Accompanied by the melodic tones of the sitar and keyboard, the duo created a dynamic soundscape, blending the intricate beats of tabla, djembe, drums, and cheek-tapping percussion to form a seamless rhythm.
The performance concluded with a heartfelt tribute to sitar legend Ravi Shankar, as the duo recreated a composition from the iconic 1971 album The Concert for Bangladesh.
Percussionist Taufig Qureshi, who named the album RamTa, explained, “It’s a play on our names and represents playfulness. Yeh naam hamare relationship ka nichod hai (This name captures the essence of our relationship). The album is entirely rhythmic, and we’ve used our voices, bodies, and every instrument we could get our hands on to create rhythm.”
Reflecting on the fusion and interactive play of sounds in their performance, Bickram Ghosh said, “Taufig and I share a deep friendship. We’ve done shows together before, but the album is an extension of that camaraderie. It’s a unique fusion of drumming that explores various grooves, taals, ragas, and frequencies. Both of us are discovering new things as we play. It’s like a trapeze act without a net—risky, but we love it. The jugalbandis, in particular, are special because, in those moments, we are truly living.”
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