Pandit Udhav Shankarao Shinde Apegaonkar, leading pakhawaj drum artist, studied with his father, Padmashree Bapu Apegaonkar. He performs solo pakhawaj at major venues in India and Europe, including Salle Moliere in Brussels and Maison de L'Inde in Paris, and tours extensively throughout India and Europe with India's top Dhrupad singers. He performs frequently with top surbahar artist Pushparaj Kosti. He is the pakhawaj player on the CD's of the Gundecha Brothers' 'Raga Bageshwari', and Sayeeduddin Dagar's 'Inde: Chant Dhrupad de la Dagarvani', used in Anne Teresa DeKeersmaeker's production 'Desh'.
Pt. Shinde tours regularly in India with his popular 'Tal Sparsha' percussion jugalbandi program, featuring his senior pakhawaj students. In Oct. 2008 Tal Sparsha made their European debut in Belgium and France, performing classical pakhawaj, as well as fusion programs with western musicians. With singer Judy Rust, Pt. Shinde performs the 'Khela Mandiyela' Marathi Abhanga program throughout Maharashtra. In Feb. 2009, they made their U.S. debut at the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in San Jose, CA.
Pt. Shinde has received the Mumbai Tal Mani Award, the Gold Medal at the Varanassi Dhrupad Festival, and he and Judy Rust are co-recipients of the St. Jnaneshwar Shanti Award. He is the director of a gurukul for pakhawaj and dhrupad, and has been appointed senior guru of pakhawaj by the Government of India and the Government of Rajastan. A highly-respected teacher throughout Europe, Pt. Shinde gives pakhawaj workshops at venues including the Alandi Center in Holland, DeSingel Conservatory in Belgium, Anagath Center in France, and the University of Berlin.
You Tube Links:
Khela Mandiyela and Tal Sparsha Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjttXfjfLKI
Abhangvani Video Judy Rust and Udhav Shinde: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOWrA4a_7kk