Cassius Khan

CASSIUS KHAN is a master performer and exponent of Ghazal Gayaki, an important genre of Indian classical singing. He is the sole disciples of the late Malika e Tarranum Mushtari Begum ( Dec 25th 1934 - March 14th 2004) and Tabla Ustad Rukhsar Ali.
A charismatic personality both on and off stage, Cassius is the only professional performing artist in the world who can execute highly skilled Tabla compositions and sing Ghazals simultaneously. His talent has stunned audiences since most Ghazalists play harmonium. Combining Indian classical singing with Tabla, for a single artist, is a first in Indian classical music and many music maestros have proclaimed that singing and playing tabla in unison is a near impossible feat to master.
Among many of his accomplishments, Khan was awarded the “Salute for Excellence” Award from the City of Edmonton in 2005, has been featured at AlbertaScene in Ottawa (2005), co-composed the “Asia Music” segment in the 2001 World Track & Field Championships in Edmonton, Alberta.
Khan also made history as the very first Indian Ghazal/Tabla maestro to be invited invited to perform at the 2008 SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. His concert was received with a packed hall and rave reviews.
Khan has performed extensively internationally, and collaborated with Grammy Award winning artist Mohan Veena player Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Satvick Veena player Salil Bhatt, guitarist Ellen McIlwaine, Pianist Stu Goldberg and Guitarist Dave Martone.
Cassius Khan is featured on Ellen McIlwaine’s recent release “Mystic Bridge” (2006), on Stu Goldberg’s “Dark Clouds” (2006) album, two of Dave Martone’s albums, “A Demon’s Dream” (2004) and “The Alchemists” (2004), and recently on ROAM's new album, "Baby Steps" 2008.
Khan also has hundreds of students around the world who learn Ghazal singing and Tabla playing from him, and teaches when he is off the touring season.
Cassius is married to acclaimed Kathak Dancer/ Harmonium player Amika Kushwaha, and they reside in Vancouver, Canada.
Reviews “His personality and aura is breathtaking when he comes to the stage, when he sings, it is divine, when he plays, there is thunder, a real phenomenon...This is Cassius Khan..."- Apna Roots, Vancouver
"Khan is a truly complete musician, a tabla wizard, or as a festival reviewer put it, a "Tabla Tornado.."- ejazznews.net
"...Cassius Khan is one of the best multi talented musicians in the world,a class of his own, with a unique and incredible tabla and singing style.He's the only one on the entire planet who can play tablas and sing at the same time!”- ejazznews.net
"…Cassius Khan is an uncanny musician with incredible mastery of the tabla and his voice...a real phenomena of Indian Classical music…"- Asian Times
"If Cassius Khan is any example, the next generation of Canada's world music artists will be well prepared to explore truly multi-faceted careers."- the Edmonton Journal
"An incredible tabla wizard, vocal sensation..his hands dance on the tabla with awesome power..what a powerful stage presence!"- Planet A A J
Discography - Young Tabla Wizard, A Live Tabla Solo- MHK/HMV India 1987
- Angel of Sevilla - D"Arcy Greaves, Cassius Khan 1995
- Mani Licks - Dan Mani, Cassius Khan 2002
- I Feel Love Again - Pavlo 2002
- A Demon's Dream - Dave Martone 2002
- The Alchemists - 27 Tracks of Guitar Wizardry 2002
- Dark Clouds - Stu Goldberg and Cassius Khan 2006
- Mystic Bridge - Ellen McIlwaine with Cassius Khan 2006