Composer, arranger and improviser; consummate soloist and generous collaborator;

custodian of tradition and restless innovator, multi-award winning sitarist Jasdeep

Singh Degun is an anomaly indeed. Unconstrained by genre, the Leeds-born virtuoso’s

extraordinary skill and creativity are reshaping the musical landscape for his peers, and

for generations to come.

The performance of a raga or raag in Indian classical music is akin to the telling of a story

in many ways. It is a narrative interpreting a traditional melody which has often been

handed down through generations, giving each performer the scope to include their

own version of events and to convey the full extent of their imagination and creative

vision. For a raag to be fully articulated the soloist takes the listener through a series of

‘movements’. This is an established structure which gives the artist an opportunity to

demonstrate the full range of their musicianship and shows us that raag is something

beyond merely a melodic framework, but which according to ancient Sanskrit texts

‘colours’, or even opens, the mind. The point at which an artist chooses which raag to

play for any concert can vary according to their sense of the specific occasion, the time

of day or even the time of year.

Jasdeep is accompanied by Gurdain Rayatt (tabla).

Gurdain started his journey at the age of 3 under the guidance of his father Ustad Harkirat Rayatt and grandfather Bhai Gurmit Singh Virdee (Punjab and Benares gharana traditions). Growing up in a household of musicians and music lovers, Gurdain was enthralled by his father’s and his grandfather’s dedication and passion for performing and teaching within the community. His grandfather promoted Tabla Solo concerts through his organisation TAAL and his father also promoted and continues to promote Tabla Solos, Indian Classical Concerts, Ensemble Performances, Workshops and Summer Tabla Retreats through his organisation CHAKARDAR.

At the age of 16. Gurdain became a disciple of the tabla legend Guru Acharya Pandit Shankar Ghosh (Farukhabad Gharana) with guidance and support from his son Bickram Ghosh, leading to extensive advanced development and training in India, with further travels to France, Germany and UK with his guru.

He is now a disciple of Pandit Yogesh Samsi, taking continuous taleem to further his knowledge, understanding and development of performance aesthetics, expression and accompaniment to even greater heights with his guru’s blessings.

Gurdain has been fortunate to learn from some of the other great tabla players through workshops and individual taleem sessions including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Pandit Suresh Talwalkar, Pandit Kumar Bose.