Biography

As it is visible by its name, Taal Yatra is an innovative presentation made by the combination of various types of rhythm instruments. Music is incomplete without rhythm. In our state and country, rhythm instruments have a long traditional history. The creation of Taal Yatra is a result of the inspiration of Ustad Allah Rakkha and Ustad Sheikh Puttan with the direction of Ustad Zakir Hussain. Taal Yatra made its first successful presentation on 29th April 2000 at Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium, Lucknow (UP). Since then, it has emerged as most unique fusion band in India and more than 150 instruments have been used with 700 artists in over 17 states of India (Jammu-Kashmir, Uttrakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Tripura, and Uttar Pradesh). Taal Yatra is the first band of its kind in which the folk and classical, especially percussion instrument with the vocal support from different regions of India are used and rediscovered by Sheikh Mohammad Ibrahim by extensive study of cultures and visits of far away regions in India. Among these instruments, most are either obsolete or on a verge of extinction and there are also very few who master the art of playing these instruments. Beside rediscovery and a platform for the artists of such instruments, Taal Yatra is working towards training the new generation to play with them. The main objective of Taal Yatra is to preserve and conserve the heritage of music of different regions of India and to attract the younger generation to learn the art and giving them a platform to showcase their talents.