Lakha Khan
Lakha Khan with son Dane at the Amarrass Desert Music Festival 2011
Lakha Khan at home
Lakha Khan - At Home, May 2019
Lakha Khan WOMEX 2019 Showcase Artist on Europe tour Oct-Nov
Lakha Khan WOMEX 2019 Showcase Artist on Europe tour Oct-Nov
Lakha Khan WOMEX 2019 Showcase Artist on Europe tour Oct-Nov
Lakha Khan WOMEX 2019 Showcase Artist on Europe tour Oct-Nov

Songs

Straddles the divide between classical and folk, a living legend
These are just preview samples. You need a valid account and be logged in to hear the full tracks.
  • country:India
  • region:Rajasthan
  • style(s):Indian, Traditional
  • label:Amarrass Records
  • type:Band, Solo, Composer/Songwriter, Duo
  • gender:male
  • instrumentation:instrumental, vocal, percussion, string, unplugged
  • artist posted by:Amarrass Records

Line up

  • Dane Khan (dholak, percussion)
  • Lakha Khan (sindhi sarangi, sarangi, vocals)

Links

Lakha Khan, a living legend and the undisputed master of the sindhi sarangi, is a national treasure, and a National award winner for his contribution to Rajasthani folk music, and perhaps the greatest exponent of the 27-string sindhi sarangi.

Born in the village of Raneri in Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India into a family of traditional musicians from the Manganiyar community, he was trained at an early age in rendering the compositions of the Multan school of Manganiyars. His first public performances were in the late 60's and 70's in India, and under the guidance of the late ethnomusicologist Komal Kothari, toured Europe, UK, Russia and Japan through the 90's. He resumed international touring in 2013 with Amarrass organizing his first US tour, and has since been back to the States twice, and toured Europe in 2016 and 2017.

Today, Lakha Khan is one of the last remaining masters of this complex instrument and to carry forward the centuries-old musical tradition of Rajasthani and Multani folk and Sufi music. His music is truly secular and straddles both the classical and folk domains, with a vast songbook that incorporates Meera bhajans, Sufi kalaams, popular Hindi tunes, and the ancient stories and oral histories of the region, spanning the western Indian sub-continent. He sings in over six languages including Hindi, Marwari, Sindhi, Punjabi and Multani. Bestowed with a powerful and melodious voice that perfectly compliments his instrument, Lakha Khan's music transcends boundaries and invokes a spiritual oneness in the listener. He is accompanied by his son Dane Khan on the dholak - the double headed Indian folk drum.

Highlights:
- Sangeet Natak Akademi award for his contribution to Rajasthani folk music, Marudhara Foundation (Kolkata) recognition
- Performed at the 2011 Edinburgh Folk Music Festival, The Amarrass Desert Music Festival (2011, 2014), Sensational India Festival at the Peabody Essex Museum (2013), Old and New Dreams Festival, Chicago (2014), two European tours in 2016/17 to Denmark, Sweden and Belgium
- Featured artist on ‘Mitha Bol’ (2011, Amarrass Records), nominated for 'Folk Album of the Year' at the Global Indian Music Awards 2012
- Three coast-to-coast US tours in 2013, 2014 and 2017 including sold out concerts in New York City (Elebash Hall), Pittsburgh, and performances at Indiana University, Bloomington, American University, Washington D.C., University of Iowa, University of Wisconsin-Madison, and more.

Press:
"4 Stars - No frills needed; just great playing from an Indian master" - Simon Broughton reviews Lakha Khan: Live in Nashville - Songlines#106

"In the master's hand, the Sufi-influenced melody he coaxes from it (the sarangi) is transformative" - Michael Sullivan, NPR Weekend Edition

"His songbook contains the roots of India's national popular music" - Aaron Cohen, Chicago Tribune

"At Home is a superb set of field recordings" - Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

"Lakha Khan’s At Home documents the master musician’s art with a series of field recordings." - Edd Hurt, Nashville Scene

Concerts

Lakha Khan