- Al Gromer Khan
Al Gromer Khan is a German-born
sitar player andcomposer whose music spans the multiple genres of ambient, new age, world andelectronica .Early Influences
Né Alois Gromer, Al Gromer Khan was born on April 8, 1946 at farm Hohentann (municipality
Altusried /Allgäu) in alpine foothills ofBavaria betweenLake Constance and Munich. He spent his early years in England, Morocco andIndia , where his father worked in theForeign Office . Gromer Khan claims that he was drawn to the "mysteries of sound" from the first, be it the sound of the bells worn by the Bavarian cows grazing in the alpine meadows near his birthplace, Indianstringed instruments , the drums ofNorth Africa or the "singing" telephone wires on the wind in the freezing Bavarian winters. Gromer Khan claims to have rejected the academic or diplomatic careers his parents expected him to take up.The 1960s found a twenty-something Al Gromer in
London where he took part in a number of creative experiments which were to have a lasting influence on him. According to Gromer Khan, thePrince Tiane na Champassak ofLaos introduced him totantric art and pop starMarc Bolan invited him to join in the all-nightjam sessions he hosted. He explored psycho-acoustic phenomena with film directorMike Figgis , and saxophonistRonnie Scott of Ronnie Scott's Jazzclub, who introduced Al toBen Webster ,Max Roach andMiles Davis , whileCat Stevens , nowYusuf Islam , gave him a taste forEnglish poetry .Development as a Sitarist
There is no doubt that Gromer Khan's creative encounters during the 1960s deeply informed his musical taste and style; however, Gromer’s ultimate musical awakening came during a trip to India in 1968, at a recital by
sitarist UstadVilayat Khan . Gromer Khan professes to have been so moved by the performance that he instantly decided to devote his life to the study of the sitar. He remained in India, where he was to find a powerful teacher in Vilayat Khan's brother, UstadImrat Khan . Gromer Khan remained in India for the next three years, speed-learning his instrument at the feet of hisguru . He returned toBavaria in 1971, already an accomplished sitarist.Gromer Khan spent the next 10 years studying with Imrat Khan in Europe and India. In 1975, his teacher performed the
Ghanda Ceremony , thus initiating Al Gromer into theKhan-I-Gharana lineage of sitarists. He was the first outsider to be accepted into this particularGharana , which like mostHindustani musical traditions, passes knowledge down the generations from father to son. After his initiation, Al Gromer added "Khan" to his name.Creative works
Concurrently, Khan engaged in a number of experimental projects, pioneering the proto-
electronic music genre calledSpace music , together withPopol Vuh ,Deuter andAmon Düül .Since 1974, Khan has released nearly 40 albums. He currently resides in
Munich , Germany.External links
*Artist's website: Includes music, paintings and essays by Al Gromer Khan [http://www.algromerkhan.com/]
*Current Record Label: With audio samples of his new cds like Radio Yoga, Another Kind of Silence and Indian Muisc II [http://www.rasateatime.com]
*Record Label: Audio Links to Space Hotel, Monsoon Point, Kamasutra Experience, Tantra Drums [http://www.newearthrecords.com]
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