“JAMkeyJAM” is a musical concept started by two young & talented musicians from Nepal (Nabin & Bijay) where the traditional music goes contemporary. An idea is to make fit the thousands of years old classical ragas and Nepali traditional & folk music in today’s world without killing its essence, delivering their own unique style. It is about perpetuating a tradition that exists since time immemorial. Nabin Shrestha, a renowned face amongst the Coloradans is a classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order. His consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as one of the prominent musicians in his own country, Nepal but gained him worldwide fame. His deep understanding of different traditional styles of tabla playing, tonal quality, clarity and ability to collaborate with different genres of music makes him different from regular percussionists and it’s no surprise that he’s the favorite accompanist for many musicians and dancers. Music was always an essential part of his life since his childhood days, and Tabla is the medium by which he was introduced to the world of music and rhythm. In combination with the guidance of his Guru Shree Rabin Lal Shrestha and inspired by brother Rajendra Shrestha, Nabin began learning tabla at the age of eight. To this day, he still views himself as a learner in an ever-expanding exploration of the beauty in musically interpreting dynamic rhythmic sounds while performing the Tabla. While pursuing his academic studies in music, Nabin was awarded an ICCR scholarship for his Master’s degree in Music. He completed his Master’s degree from Gandharva Music University in high score. which he completed with the highest score in the year 1998. During his stay in India, he got an opportunity to further develop his knowledge with some of the greatest musical masters/gurus such as Ustaad Shri Faiyaaz Khan and Shri Tansen Shrivastav. Upon completion of a Master’s Degree from Gandharva, Nabin got an opportunity to further his musical studies under the guidance of the greatest tabla maestro of all time, Taalmani Pandit Sureshji Talwalkar, in Mumbai. Nabin had a successful career in Nepal as a performing and recording artist. Some of his original albums are, Raaganubhuti (Hindustani Classical), Murchchhana(Jazz Fusion), Re-drums (Traditional Nepali Drums and Tabla). He is also a founder of a successful band named Murchchhana which was a Jazz classical fusion band. Nabin was also teaching at Tribhuvan University, one of the reputed university in Nepal, as an Assistant Professor. Currently, Nabin is residing in the USA and is teaching and performing there. He has also launched a music school in Colorado, Aum School of Music, where students get to learn Tabla, and various other aspects of Hindustani Classical Music. He has formed a Classical fusion band named “Jam Key Jam”. They perform Hindustani music, traditional Nepalese music, fusion and collaborates with many amazing artists from all around the world. He was born to Tabla Maestro Rabin Lal Shrestha and Sitar player Bina Shrestha. Coming from a musical family, Mr. Bijay lal Shrestha started learning Tabla at the tender age of four under the guidance of his father Mr. Rabin Lal Shrestha and by the time he was 18, he completed masters degree in Tabla. Currently, he is majoring in sitar (Master degree) at Lalitkala campus under the guidance of Sitar Maestra Uma Thapa being the only young artiste in Nepal to have achieved degree in both tabla and sitar. Mr. Shrestha has shared stage with the world-renowned flautist Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and has following creative albums: • Maestro Duets on Sarod (2012 AD) • Moods of Meed (2013 AD) • Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia Live in Nepal (2014AD) • Abiding (2014 AD) As result of his numerous years of training in both tabla and sitar, Mr. Shrestha’s profound understanding of diverse gharana styles and mastery of technical skill gradually began to resonate through the magical touch of his swift, agile fingers. Today he is hailed as one of the serious, young exponents of classical music, who constantly endeavors to infuse interest and respect for this traditional art in the hearts and minds of the younger generation. He has performed in different European countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Austria and Italy) with his band “Prana Mundi). Currently, He is residing in Colorado, performing and offering sitar lessons.
