Rijram Desad, often credited as Rij Ram Desad, was an Indian classical musician, multi-instrumentalist and teacher, based in Bombay. Beginning in the early 1940s, he performed on many Indian film soundtracks and in ballet presentations. He was known for his versatility as a musician and his ability to master a wide range of percussion and string instruments. According to cultural historian Naseem Khan, his skill on the jal tarang had become "legendary" by the mid-1970s.Naseem Khan, "The Artists", in Collaborations, book accompanying Ravi Shankar–George Harrison Collaborations box set (Dark Horse Records, 2010; produced by Olivia Harrison; package design by Drew Lorimer & Olivia Harrison), p. 46.
Desad worked with the Hindi cinema playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and played santoor on recordings by the Hindustani ghazal, dadra and thumri vocalist Begum Akhtar.Liner notes, Lost Horizons LP (The Gramophone Company of India, 1977; produced & directed by Murli Manohar Swarup). Among his contributions to orchestral projects, he played hand drumsCredits, Raga: A Film Journey into the Soul of India DVD, East Meets West/Apple Films, 2010 (produced and directed by Howard Worth; reissue produced by Shyama Priya & Cat Celebrezze). in an ensemble led by Ravi Shankar and filmed in Bombay in 1968 for the Shankar documentary Raga (1971).Peter Lavezzoli, The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, Continuum (New York, NY, 2006; ), p. 184.Howard Thompson, "Screen: Ravi Shankar; 'Raga,' a Documentary, at Carnegie Cinema", The New York Times, 24 November 1971, p. 23 (retrieved 26 August 2015). In January 1968, he was among the musicians selected by Shambhu Das, who ran Shankar's Kinnara School of Music in Bombay,Bill Harry, The George Harrison Encyclopedia, Virgin Books (London, 2003; ), p. 61. to appear on the Wonderwall Music soundtrack album by George Harrison of the Beatles.Wonderwall Music CD booklet (Apple Records, 2014; produced by George Harrison), pp. 8, 15. Desad's contributions to the album included Indian harmonium and tabla tarang.Album credits, Wonderwall Music CD (Apple Records, 2014; produced by George Harrison). As a result of this project, Desad played harmonium on the Beatles song "The Inner Light", which Harrison recorded during the same sessions.Peter Lavezzoli, The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, Continuum (New York, NY, 2006; ), p. 183. In his notes detailing the contributions of the musicians he worked with in Bombay, Harrison listed him as "Rij-Ram (Everything) Desad".George Harrison – The Apple Years book (Apple Records, 2014; produced by Dhani Harrison, Olivia Harrison & Jonathan Clyde), p. 17.
In 1974, Desad was one of the musicians and singers handpicked by Shankar for his Music Festival from India revue.Ravi Shankar, Raga Mala: The Autobiography of Ravi Shankar, Welcome Rain (New York, NY, 1999; ), pp. 223–24. Sponsored by Harrison, the eighteen-piece orchestra toured Europe,Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium, 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ), p. 442. playing a musical program that mixed Indian classical and a wide variety of regional folk styles.Collaborations, book accompanying Ravi Shankar–George Harrison Collaborations box set (Dark Horse Records, 2010; produced by Olivia Harrison; package design by Drew Lorimer & Olivia Harrison), p. 31. Among the percussion instruments played by Desad, he performed on pakavaj beside fellow drummers Alla Rakha (tabla), T.V. Gopalkrishnan (mridangam) and Kamalesh Maitra (tabla tarang).Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium, 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ), p. 447. Harrison also produced a studio album by the Music Festival from India;Peter Lavezzoli, The Dawn of Indian Music in the West, Continuum (New York, NY, 2006; ), p. 195. released in 1976, it included contributions from Desad on pakavaj, madal tarang, dholki, nagada, huduk and duff.Album credits, Ravi Shankar's Music Festival from India LP (Dark Horse Records, 1976; produced by George Harrison). Following the Music Festival's European tour, he played on Harrison and Shankar's joint North American tour in November and December 1974.Olivia Harrison, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Abrams (New York, NY, 2011; ), pp. 298–99.Chip Madinger & Mark Easter, Eight Arms to Hold You: The Solo Beatles Compendium, 44.1 Productions (Chesterfield, MO, 2000; ), pp. 446–47. For the finale to the Indian portion of these concerts, Desad and the rest of Shankar's ensemble performed with Harrison's band,Olivia Harrison, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Abrams (New York, NY, 2011; ), p. 312.Robert Rodriguez, Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles' Solo Years, 1970–1980, Backbeat Books (Milwaukee, WI, 2010; ), p. 238. which also included jazz percussionist Emil Richards and rock drummers Jim Keltner and Andy Newmark.
Desad's versatility led to him redesigning old folk musical instruments for use in a more modern and varied musical context. Later a teacher, Desad was a mentor to tablist Lalit Mahant,Garima Mishra, "Call of the Santoor", The Indian Express, 8 June 2015 (retrieved 4 August 2016). whom he trained in tabla and the tantra vadhya vocal style."Biography", santoortabla.com (retrieved 4 August 2016).
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