Babukishan Das Baul...Baul Guru, Ancient Oral Living Lineage, Baul of Bengal.
Multi-instrumentalist, legendary Indian composer, energetic performer Babukishan, deeply inspired by his guru Sri Nabani Das Baul and his parents. Babu is a Baul, sanskrit, vedic, tantric, scholar mystic. He is a Master of Indian Classical, Folk, Baul, and Indian Cinema Music. Babu is the first educated Baul outside of the oral tradition with a BA in Indian Philosophy, MA in Indian Music from Kolkata University. Babu has been traveling, preserving his Oral Living Lineage for 40 years.
Babu was born on the soil of Bengal into a long lineage of Bauls, he was clearly destined to belong to the world of music. His journey started in early, his first 8 years of life were spent living with his grandparents Sri Nabani Khyappa Baul, and Brajobala Dasi, learning, experiencing a deeply authentic spiritual Baul way of life. Babu was very blessed at the time because his grandfather being a famous Baul Saint Avadhuta carried Babu everywhere with him presenting Babu with many opportunities to many of the great Saints, Yogi's, Avadhuta's, Swami's, Naths and Tantrics of the 60's in India.
After his grandfather’s Samadhi, Babu moved to Kolkata, it was not easy for him to adjust to living with his family so he next 12 years at the RamaKrishna Mission, (Vedanta Society of India) in a very deep, and tough spiritual study. During the holidays Babu joined his mother Manju Das Baul, and father Purna Das Baul, playing, composing, and singing Baul music at global festivals, universities, on television, and world radio stations, traveling around the world.
Over the years Babu has learned to play some 15 different instruments, including Harmonium, Tabla, Dholok, Mandolin, Ektara, Khamak, Dotara, ect..and has studied with great teachers such as Nabani Das Baul, Purna Das Baul, Pandit Amarnath, Gyanprakash Ghosh, Mahapurush Mishra, Khokon Mukherjee, R.D. Burman.
He has learned both the classical, and folk music of India as well as western music, this knowledge has helped him to compose, and collaborate with some of the worlds top western musicians.
Babu has created more than 44 albums in different languages worldwide with reputed music labels as, Universal Music, EMI, Polygram Music, CBS, Star Music, Sony, HMV, T-Series, and he has composed for feature film music/back ground music, private albums, Documentary films. He has composed music for more than 150 musical film scores.
Babu’s professional career in music began with some of the 20th centuries greatest musician’s.
He toured with Bob Dylan’s The Band in their 1985 East and West tour. He has performed and recorded with music industry greats such as George Harrison, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Chakka Khan, Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Tom Petty, Miles Davis, Allan Fakir, Herbie Mann, Third World, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Ziggy Marley, R.D.Burman, and many others independently.
Babu puts this solid foundation in music to good use by composing and performing in all areas of India’s entertainment Bollywood films, and music industry as well as in a variety of venues worldwide. In keeping with his early dreams of developing his own unique style, he turned to the music of the Western world that he had become so familiar with in his early years of performance. His use of original Baul, and Indian rhythms combined with the Reggae produced his own brand of World music, of which Babu’s new age Bengali Folk Fusion is the result. Babukishan has held the title of Composer and Music director in numerous Bollywood films, and Indian televison’s Series in addition to composing and performing in countless CD”s.
As a International teacher, his vast experiences coupled with his gentle and supportive patience, quickly brings out the best in his students. He rewards that best by featuring his students in many of his own professional performances.
Babu doesn’t just play music ..he oozes music from his soul, and showers his instruments with that essence.
Babukishan has been a cultural representative for Baul culture around the world for more than 40 years.
Although Babu has achieved much success he knows that his dharma is the preservation, documentation, education as well as continuation of Baul festivals, and the writing of books regarding Baul philosophy, music, and Baul Sadhana to preserve this ancient culture. The poor Bauls in the village need help, food, medicine and a platform, a place to live, and learn Baul songs.. There were 22 Baul ashrams, and now there are only 2... The lineage Bauls are in danger of becoming extinct.
Babu also has a dream to help the real original Bauls struggling in the villages of Bengal to keep the tradition alive through creating a Baul foundation, and "BAVA" Baul Ashram and Vedic Academy.
http://ektarabaul.blogspot.com/
http://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/
The Bauls of Bengal Cultural Institution & Vedic Acadamy, to help preserve this very ancient Baul lineage. Babu has travelled all over the world and has seen how the world is changing at such a rapid rate, he understands that if the Baul lineage is not preserved its ancient roots will be lost.
Babu was born on the soil of Bengal into a long lineage of Bauls, he was clearly destined to belong to the world of music. His journey started in early, his first 8 years of life were spent living with his grandparents Sri Nabani Khyappa Baul, and Brajobala Dasi, learning, experiencing a deeply authentic spiritual Baul way of life. Babu was very blessed at the time because his grandfather being a famous Baul Saint Avadhuta carried Babu everywhere with him presenting Babu with many opportunities to many of the great Saints, Yogi's, Avadhuta's, Swami's, Naths and Tantrics of the 60's in India.
After his grandfather’s Samadhi, Babu moved to Kolkata, it was not easy for him to adjust to living with his family so he next 12 years at the RamaKrishna Mission, (Vedanta Society of India) in a very deep, and tough spiritual study. During the holidays Babu joined his mother Manju Das Baul, and father Purna Das Baul, playing, composing, and singing Baul music at global festivals, universities, on television, and world radio stations, traveling around the world.
Over the years Babu has learned to play some 15 different instruments, including Harmonium, Tabla, Dholok, Mandolin, Ektara, Khamak, Dotara, ect..and has studied with great teachers such as Nabani Das Baul, Purna Das Baul, Pandit Amarnath, Gyanprakash Ghosh, Mahapurush Mishra, Khokon Mukherjee, R.D. Burman.
He has learned both the classical, and folk music of India as well as western music, this knowledge has helped him to compose, and collaborate with some of the worlds top western musicians.
Babu has created more than 44 albums in different languages worldwide with reputed music labels as, Universal Music, EMI, Polygram Music, CBS, Star Music, Sony, HMV, T-Series, and he has composed for feature film music/back ground music, private albums, Documentary films. He has composed music for more than 150 musical film scores.
Babu’s professional career in music began with some of the 20th centuries greatest musician’s.
He toured with Bob Dylan’s The Band in their 1985 East and West tour. He has performed and recorded with music industry greats such as George Harrison, Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Chakka Khan, Ravi Shankar, Zakir Hussain, Tom Petty, Miles Davis, Allan Fakir, Herbie Mann, Third World, Robbie Robertson, Garth Hudson, Ziggy Marley, R.D.Burman, and many others independently.
Babu puts this solid foundation in music to good use by composing and performing in all areas of India’s entertainment Bollywood films, and music industry as well as in a variety of venues worldwide. In keeping with his early dreams of developing his own unique style, he turned to the music of the Western world that he had become so familiar with in his early years of performance. His use of original Baul, and Indian rhythms combined with the Reggae produced his own brand of World music, of which Babu’s new age Bengali Folk Fusion is the result. Babukishan has held the title of Composer and Music director in numerous Bollywood films, and Indian televison’s Series in addition to composing and performing in countless CD”s.
As a International teacher, his vast experiences coupled with his gentle and supportive patience, quickly brings out the best in his students. He rewards that best by featuring his students in many of his own professional performances.
Babu doesn’t just play music ..he oozes music from his soul, and showers his instruments with that essence.
Babukishan has been a cultural representative for Baul culture around the world for more than 40 years.
Although Babu has achieved much success he knows that his dharma is the preservation, documentation, education as well as continuation of Baul festivals, and the writing of books regarding Baul philosophy, music, and Baul Sadhana to preserve this ancient culture. The poor Bauls in the village need help, food, medicine and a platform, a place to live, and learn Baul songs.. There were 22 Baul ashrams, and now there are only 2... The lineage Bauls are in danger of becoming extinct.
Babu also has a dream to help the real original Bauls struggling in the villages of Bengal to keep the tradition alive through creating a Baul foundation, and "BAVA" Baul Ashram and Vedic Academy.
http://ektarabaul.blogspot.com/
http://lineagebaul.blogspot.com/
The Bauls of Bengal Cultural Institution & Vedic Acadamy, to help preserve this very ancient Baul lineage. Babu has travelled all over the world and has seen how the world is changing at such a rapid rate, he understands that if the Baul lineage is not preserved its ancient roots will be lost.
International fame Baul Guru Babukishan Das Baul at Round House,canada2010
