published by Adam Morrison

I met Naren more than 10 years ago, when I joined “Alms for Shanti”, a rock band fronted by Uday Benegal and Jayesh Ghandi, school friends from Mumbai, but including elements of classical Indian music, notably with Naren on Tabla.

Since then, we have played together in a wide range of situations: educational presentations for young kids, world music benefit concerts, chamber music recordings.

Now, we are fortunate to have Naren as a guest artist for our new CD project. He will play Tabla in the composition “Path of Light”.

Naren is that rare combination of musician who is deeply rooted in his own classical tradition and yet willing and able to connect with musicians from very different worlds. He gives full-length solo concerts in Europe and is equally comfortable playing in a large ensemble without the need to be “in the spotlight”, always maintaining the joy and charm that he brings to every project.

When we have a free moment in common, he comes to my house to commune with my dog and cat, and play some ping-pong.

As I think about my decision to make playing and teaching music a way of life, I can honestly say that it is exactly people like Naren that make it satisfying and worthwhile.