MUSICAL BACKGROUND / HONING OF THE TALENT

Influences

His major influences in the world of rhythm have been Ustad Alla Rakha, Ustad Zakir Hussain, Ghatam Vidhwan Vikku Vinayakram, Master Drummers, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Aeirto Morreiro, Giovanni Hidalgo and Tito Pointe

His Guru and primary inspiration to date remains his illustrious father, Ustad Allarakha. However, while learning the rudiments of the tabla from his father, Taufiq from a very young age was drawn to the wider world of percussions. Although his grooming has been deeply rooted in the Indian Classical Music culture, his horizons widened, listening to his brother, Zakir's fusion experiments through the bands Shanti, Diga, Shakti and Rhythm Experience. However, it was after hearing his father play in an international album with the master drummer, Buddy Rich; that Taufiq fell in love with the entire world of rhythm with its wide range of instrumentation .

Turning point

First concert with Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain in Germany in 1988 was a turning point in the sense that the concert gave him the confidence that he could indeed share the stage with the two giants of rhythm.
Also, in the same year, 1988 he went to USA for the first time with Abbaji and Zakir Bhai to play a Tabla Trio. And there he came across some of the leading drummers and percussionists like Billy Cobham, Tito Pointe, Manu Katche, Aeirto Morreiro, and of course Abbaji and Zakir Bhai playing first individually and then together. It was a very memorable performance with each artiste looking like a God to him.
After that there was no looking back….!

A dedicated self-learner, Taufiq soon discovered his greatest asset: "a feel for the world of sound ", with all its intricate nuances. This is the quality which makes him one of the most sought-after rhythm programmers and percussionists in the world of live performances and studio-recordings as well.

As a Composer

Taufiq was always drawn to the field of composing music. His journey as a composer began way back, post his college days when he did rhythm programming for songs from private albums, jingles and film songs. Soon he became a popular name as a music director in the Mumbai theatre circuit. He composed along with friend and musician, Piyush Kanojia. Among the many memorable compositions for theatre plays, The Royal Hunt Of the Sun, Eva Mumbai Ma Chal Jaiye, Mahatma vs Gandhi, Salgirah and Begum Sumroo stand out. Taufiq also produced several impressive music pieces for Beauty Pageants, like Femina Miss India and Ford Super Model. During the good old days in the early nineties, when the television industry was very selective; some of his TV- serial title music tracks and signature tunes became very popular.

By virtue of his amazing versatility as a percussionist and as a composer of sorts he has carved himself a unique niche in the field of world music.

Favourite Percussions

Taufiq’s sense of tone and command over a wide variety of percussion instruments is phenomenal. He has been described as "a fantastic percussionist with any instrument at any speed" by his seniors and contemporaries alike. His repertoire ranges from the earthy and rustic ' Dumroo & Duff’ to the contemporary 'Batajon'(A Cuban instrument), 'Bongo' (Latin American instrument), 'Djembe' (African percussion instrument). Whether it is playing the 'Madal Tarang' or the 'Cymbals', the 'Timbale', the 'Clay drum', the 'Dumbak' or the 'Midi drums', his unique presence is unmistakably recognizable.

Taufiq’s trademark style incorporates body and vocal percussions to create unique rhythmic motifs spanning across cultures.

Taufiq’s experiments using the ‘breath’ have become an integral part of his performances; he transposes the grammar of rhythm into the ‘in and out’ breath.  He believes, the ‘in breath and out breath’ to be most primary rhythmic cycle a human being follows.

Taufiq is also eminently comfortable in the evolving world of electronically assisted rhythms along with his keyboards.