Fareed Haque: Fareed Haque Group -Garaj Mahal

*Jon Paul* has been an integral part of the Fareed Haque Group since 1994 and can be heard on the BlueNote releases Opaque and Déjà vu. Aside from his work with Fareed, Jon has also performed with Danilo Perez, Fred Simon, Howard Levy, Jim Snidero and Louis Bellson. An alumnus of Indiana University at Bloomington, he is currently on the faculty of Benedictine University. *Dan Leali* is a Chicago native. Dan began playing drums at the age of ten. He began performing professionally while still in high school, and served as section leader of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, performing as a soloist with the ensemble. A graduate of the DePaul University School of Music, Dan has toured, performed and recorded with such artists as the performance art/music/multi media troupe The Blue Man Group; Mark Rivera (Billy Joel, Foreigner, Peter Gabriel), Frank Catalano; Blues men Pinetop Perkins and John Primer and jazz/funk group Liquid Soul, receiving a Grammy Nomination for his performance on the band's 2000 recording, "Here's the Deal". Dan has also been active in the recording studio, performing on commercial jingles for such products/organizations as Budweiser, Miller Lite, Golden Grahams and the U.S. Army.
	A native of the Chicago area, *Rob Clearfield* has had the privilege of a very diverse musical background. Since high school, Rob has shown an interest in many styles of music, studying and performing jazz, gospel, rock, hip-hop, classical and afro-latin. After a brief period of study at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Clearfield has enjoyed a successful career as a performer, working professionally with such artists as Juma Santos, Corey Wilkes, Ernest Dawkins, and Walt Whitman and the Soul Children of Chicago. In addition to his work with Fareed, Clearfield is also an active composer. His original music can be heard in the jazz/indie rock group Information Superhighway, whose debut recording is due for release fall 2007. http://www.myspace.com/robclearfield
	*Kala Ramnath*, the contemporary torch bearer of the Mewati Gharana, stands today amongst the most outstanding instrumental musicians in the North Indian classical genre. KALA began playing the violin at the tender age of three under the strict tutelage of her grandfather Vidwan. NARAYAN IYER. Simultaneously she received training from her aunt Dr. Smt. N. RAJAM. For fifteen years she put herself under the training of Mewati vocal maestro, Sangeet Martand PANDIT JASRAJ. This has brought a rare vocal emotionalism to her art.
KALA's violin playing is characterized by an immaculate bowing and fingering technique, command over all aspects of laya, richness and clarity in sur. All this innate artistry and technical brilliance combined with a rare and exquisite emotional quality are the hallmarks of the style. She has completely revolutionized the technique of playing the violin by taking this instrument so close to vocal music that today her violin is called "THE SINGING VIOLIN". www.kalaramnath.com
	*Salar Nader*, of Afghan origin, was in born on June 20th, 1981 in Hamburg, Germany. It was in his early months of life when his mother and father noticed his passion for the "tabla" (percussion instrument from North India). No matter where Salar was, he had to bring along his personal tabla set, which his father bought for him when he was 6 months old. When Salar was 3 years old his parents moved from Hamburg, Germany to Queens, New York where Salar began playing at family parties. According to his parents, he would weep over the tabla while others were performing.
After New York, Salar's family had to make one more life changing move to Northern California where, at the age of 7 Salar attended his first tabla class in Berkeley, CA. The instructor of the class, Ustad Zakir Hussain, who is now Salar's Guru is a world renowned master of the Tabla. While Salar continued his guidance under legendary tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, he was rapidly progressing from beginning to advanced levels. Sooner than expected, Salar was making public appearances on nationwide television screens including; "Nowrooz" festival TV, Nima TV and Jaam-e-Jaam TV. One of his memorable appearances was with Ustad Mawaash {notable Afghan vocalist}, when Salar was only 11 years old. Salar continued to play with folk Afghani and other traditional afghan musicians. As time progressed Salar became more and more devoted to his tabla training. In the "GURU SHSIYA" tradition there is "Ustad" {Guru/Master} and "SHAGIRD" {student} and this is where student dedicates his or her life to the Guru not only for music but guidance and spiritual and moral support in life. Salar had his official Gandaband ceremony at the age of 12 where, he was blessed by both his Guru and Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. At this point Salar realized the significance of the tradition and began playing classical concerts with Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and other great musicians. Salar participated in many non profit fundraisers to raise funds for Afghanistan. At 16 years old, Salar was blessed to Ustad Sultan Khan, the world famous sarangi master. And at the age of 18 Salar participated in the Monterey Music Festival, in collaboration with Ustad Sultan Khan and Rob Wasserman. Salar is featured on the album, Space Island, _Atlantic Records release which he played with Sultan Khan Saheb and Rob Wasserman. In 2003, Salar traveled to India where he had the opportunity to study tabla in Mumbai and attend many major music festivals in India. One of the finest experiences he had was attending Ustad Allah Rakha's {father of Ustad Zakir Hussain} annual festival which is put together by his son. Salar was very blessed to have this experience because it was very enlightening and influential for Salar to be in an environment that is filled with aspiring tabla players and scholarly musicians. When Salar returned to the US, he began a very strict reyaz {practice} regimen in addition to pursuing his B.A. at the University of San Francisco. At the age of 22, Salar began teaching young aspiring tabla players. Salar graduated high school and began university at San Francisco State University. At SF State, he began to accompany Pandit Chitresh Das during his Kathak class. Salar was invited to Pandit Ji's school to practice and also accompany principle dancers in the Cchandam Dance Company. Not only did Salar enjoy accompanying classical singers and musicians but he found a passion for accompanying Kathak Dance. According to him, the intensity and spontaneity of Kathak dance challenged the strength of a tabla player. In 2005, Salar was invited by Pundit ji to accompany him at MIT University in Boston, Massachusetts where Salar performed professionally with Kathak dance for the first time. Currently, Salar enjoys collaborating with the Dj Chebi Sabbah, a legendary Dj for the Asian underground scene. Salar enjoys improvising with different percussion instruments including the dhol, timbales, etc. Salar is also collaborating with the Fareed Haque Group, an Indian jazz fusion style of music. He occasionally performs with the Rumi Ensemble and Afghan Orchestra led by Ustad Mawaash. Salar would like to thank his mother and father for supporting him throughout his life and express his deep admiration and respect for his Guru ji, Ustad Zakir Hussain. Some artists Salar has played with-- Ustad Salamat Ali khan (vocal), Ustad Sultan khan (sarangi), Pandit Ajay Pohankar(vocal), Ustad Fateh Ali khan (vocal), Ustad Aashish khan (strode), Pandit Chitresh Das (kathak), Ustad Sharam Nazeri (vocal), Ustad Zaland (vocal) Ustad Rashid khan (vocal), Ustad Mowash (vocal), Ustad Eltaf Hussain Sarahang, Ustad Khotam (vocal) Ustad Shahid Parvez (sitar), Ustad Mashkur ali khan (vocal), Ustad Shujaat khan (sitar), Ustad Sharafat Ali khan (vocal), Ustad Wujahat khan (strode), Ustad Neim Nazari (vocal), Rahul Sharma (santoor), Alam khan (strode), George Brooks (saxophone), Fareed Haque (guitar), Homayun Farzad (vocal), Hafez Nazeri (vocal), Homayun Sakhi (rabob), Aziz Herawii (dhotar and rabob), Sekander Seraj (guitar), Charlotte Moraga (kathak), Shafqat Ali Khan (vocal), Dj Chebi Sabbah, Hafiz Modirzadeh (saxophone), Glenn Appel (saxophone), David Lewis (drum set), Abhijeet Pohankar (key board), Chris Robinson (guitar), Chris Clouse (guitar and vocal), Riffat Salamat, Richard Michos (guitar), Manose (bansuri flute), Kala Ramnath (violin), Vishal Veid (vocal), Madan Oak (santoor), Farah Shaik (kathak), Vaneeth Nand (vocal), Sukhawat Ali khan (vocal), Ali khan band (fusion ensemble), Ahmad Wali khan (ghazal), Najim Nawabi (ghazal), Neim Ali Thrikwa (ghazal), Ehsan Aman (ghazal and light music), Ghulam Abbas (ghazal), Rumi Ensemble (Iranian classical), Chuck Dotas (Jazz ensemble). www.salarnader.com
	*Jim Feist* has been performing and studying tabla for the last 16 years. He has traveled to India several times to learn tabla from the late, legendary Ustad Allah Rakha, and Vibhav Nageshkar. For the last 6 years he has been under the tutelage of Ustad Allah Rakha's celebrated disciple, Yogesh Samsi. He has also studied from Sukvinder Singh Namdhari, Samir Chatterji, Anand Badamakar, and a handful of other notable players representing most of the main tabla gharanas. He has also shared a close relationship with the illustrious Sunayana Hazarilal the presidential award winning Kathak dancer from Bombay and has learned much in this style also.
Jim has been recorded on albums by composer Kanniks Kannikeswaran for two all India releases, and an album of pure Dhrupad music called "Banaras" released in March '06. He has also recorded with the group he co-founded Mohenjo Daro ("Baksheesh" on Tandem Records and "Rajdhani Express" also on Tandem records). In 2003 and 2004, Mohenjo Daro won back to back "Cincinnati Entertainment Awards" for "Best World Band". Jim also composed the music and performed all the percussion on his debut solo disc Indus Red. As a session tabla player Jim has been recorded on many discs over the years. He also performed in the critically acclaimed Indian show Shanti (2004,2006) in Cincinnati Ohio, and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. He composed and performed music for the documentary "Made in India?". He has provided music for an important video for the organization "Saathi" (Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India). He has also played on the 2006 c.d. "Sri Venkata Ramaniyamu Vol. 5" for the Sri Venkataramaniyamu Welfare Society where all proceeds benefit the underpriviledged in India. Jim has performed with the famed vocalist Ashiq Khan in Rajasthan, India. He is a frequent performer with the Bhajan group Aradhna. He has performed with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra on several occassions, and at the Montreal Jazz-Festival twice (2002 and 2005) with Mohenjo Daro. He has shared the stage with many fusion stalwarts including The Buddy Rich Big Band bassist Dave Larocca . He has also performed solo tabla with his teacher Yogesh Samsi. Jim has also accompanied Bollywood giant Mahendra Kapoor, Budhadev Das Gupta, Laxmi Shankar, and Kankana Banerjee, and a host of other Indian Classical musicians. As an educator Jim has held very successful clinics and lec/dems all over the mid-west in colleges and high schools. He has been a featured clinician at Marshall University and has lectured at Taylor University among many others. He has had successful solos at Washington University, and Indiana University to name a few. He teaches privately in Dayton and Cincinnati Ohio. In 2006 he was awarded the prestigious performing arts grant from the American Institute of Indian Studies and the Smithsonian Institute to continue his tutelage in India for an extended period of time.
	*Cory Healey* Cory Healey is a Chicago based drummer who has experience in all styles of contemporary music. He has preformed, toured, and/or recorded with Fareed Haque, ALGERNON, John Abercrombie, David Amram, The Dave Hartsman Quartet, Bob Florence, Salar Nader, Dave Miller, Kyle Asche, Rick Stone, John Henry Tate III, and Dr. Bob Washut. Raised in Independence, Iowa, Cory was a member off the award winning Independence High School Jazz Orchestra, the Iowa All-Sate Jazz Ensemble, and the Iowa Ambassadors of Music (2000 European Tour). He studied Jazz and Percussion at Northern Illinois University and received a Bachelors of Music in 2006. Mr. Healey has studied with John Hollenbeck, Tom Rainey, Jim Drier, Rodrigo Villanueva, Robert Chappell, Orlando Cotto, Rich Holly, Dr. Greg Beyer, and Fareed Haque. FHG Publicity Shot