Kamal Sabri

THE MUSICALLY GIFTED KAMAL SABRI IS THE SON OF SARANGI LEGEND USTAD SABRI KHAN and IS CARRYING FORWARD THE RICH LEGACY OF THE SANIA GHARANA OF MORADABAD WITH SINGLE minded DEDICATION.

Kamal, who is the seventh generation of a distinguished family of traditional musicians, has demonstrated profound versatility in playing the Sarangi.

Kamal was initiated and trained by his father in the style of the Senia Gharana (school) of Rampur, Moradabad from the tender age of 5 years and very soon this child prodigy made waves in the musical world with his talent. His musical brilliance and talent as a seasoned accompanist gained immense popularity amongst eminent classical vocalists.

In India Kamal participated in several prestigious festivals over the years like the Harballabh Music Festival in Jalandhar (Dec.1991, 2001, 2005, 2007), Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior (Dec.2001), Saptak Festival Ahmedabad (2002, 2003), Swami Haridas Music festival Mumbai (1995), ITC Sangeet Sammelan(2004),    New Delhi, ICCR Festival of Music NCPA, Mumbai and World Peace Concert in Delhi, Sangeet Natak Academy Golden Jubilee Festival Hyderabad (Nov.2003), to name a few. Appreciation by music lovers and rave reviews for his performance came easily and spontaneously.

Kamal has also made his mark on the international musical forum, has participated and represented India in several International festivals including the "Art of the Bow" Festival in Geneva, Switzerland(Nov.2001) , World Music Festival Lahore, Pakistan(March.2001), All Pakistan Music Conference(1991,2008),Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan, BBC Millennium Concert in International Convention Centre, Birmingham, UK (Dec2001), Sangeet Mela Festival , Rome, Italy(May2003), Tropen Theatre Museum, Amsterdam, Holland (Nov.2001) , Festival musicale del mediterraneo, Genoa, Italy (July 2005), Festival of Indian Music, Antwerp, Belgium (Nov2001), Oslo World Music Festival, Norway (Nov.2007) , International Photography Festival, Pingyao(Sep.2007), China, Total Global Festival, Oslo, Norway(June,2008), Asia Pacific Festival, Fukuoka, Japan (Sep.2007), International Meet, Nobel Institute, Oslo, Norway (Aug.2008). Saint Denis Festival, Paris, France,(May 2003), Indo-China Friendship Festival Beijing, China,(Oct.2006) Festival Internacional de Música, Sveille, Spain (June2002) , Festival "L'Inde à Nîmes" ( India Festival) Nimes ,France (Oct.2007), Savoy Theatre,Helsinki, Finland (May 1998), University of Toronto, Canada (Aug.2008), Nanjing University, China (Sep.2007), Mela Festival ,Oslo, Norway (2005,2006), Rhythm Stick Festival Royal Festival Hall ,London, UK (July2002), Domino Auditorium,Turuku , Finland (June 2002), Södra Theatre , Stockholm, Sweden (June 2002), India Festival Barbados,West Indies (May 1998), Paramaribo, Surinam (May 1998), Eesti Konserte, Tallin, Estonia (May 2004), today he is a name to reckon with in the International cultural scene. While honing his skills in the traditional style of music, he has also adapted to the changing musical scenario and is constantly trying to set new trends and standards within his tradition.

Some of the most highly respected Indian and foreign dignitaries who have attended Kamal Sabri’s Sarangi-concerts include, but are not limited to, King of  Norway, Prime Minister of  Norway, President of China and two of the former Presidents of India Mr. R. Venkat Raman and Sh. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

A Top Graded Artist of All India Radio, Kamal is a regular performer on All India Radio and Indian National Television. He has appeared in many Radio Sangeet Sammelans and National Programmes of Music. He has won several awards including, 'The Best Instrumentalist'(2000), Surmani'(2001), Sangeet Bhushan Award(2002),'The Young Maestro Award' (1999) conferred by the Indo-Sri Lankan Cultural Council and the 'Young Ustad Khitab (Title) (2005) at the Prestigious Harballabh Music Festival.

Kamal has many achievements to his credit, including, the privilege to be the youngest Indian musician to participate in "Les 24 heures du raga" (the 24 hours Millennium concert) in Paris, France. He made a record of sorts in that Festival by playing 9 concerts with the all vocalist, leaving the audience spellbound.

Kamal, was invited several times to show case his musical skills by the BBC, Radio France, Radio Pakistan, Radio Switzerland, Radio Italy, Radio Barbados, Finnish Broadcasting Company Finland, NRK Norway several times.

He has also worked with renowned musicians like Zakir Hussain, Fateh Ali Khan, Hossam Ramzy ,Talvin Singh, Taufiq Qureshi, Ricky Niles , from Barbados (West Indies), Jukka Tolonen, from Finland, Rondo Vienna Orchestra from Austria, Sergio Cammariere from Italy, Renato Martins from Brazil performed with Jan Garbarek, for the King of Norway. Kamal has recorded his genre of music for famous Bands like Massive Attack, One Giant Leap, also for Hollywood films(Republic of Love, Winter of Love etc.) and Bollywood films(Khamosh Pani, Sarhad Par etc.)

This multifaceted musician is also a composer, who has delivered powerfully ambient scores for documentary films, such as The Big Question featuring Mel Gibson and Monica Bellucci, Bollywood Boulevard, Mystics of Sufism for BBC, Red Cross , Mother Teresa , Kamal has also composed music for several albums and orchestras like Dance of the Desert ,Sabri Ensemble , Sarangi Funk, Ellam Anggekkai (SouthIndian Album), Tera Naam, Indian Contemporary Music Orchestra,Vienna Chamber Orchestra,European Eunion Chamber Orchesra to name a few. Kamal continues to explore the vast realm of the music world yet retaining the purity of the Indian Classical Music thorough the strains of his Sarangi. Recently Kamal Sabri released the first ever album “SARANGI REDEFINED” featuring inmates from Tihar Jail.