Local New Westminster resident Cassius Khan is the world's first musician to sing and play the tabla simultaneously, and he's going to be featured at an upcoming MusicFest Vancouver performance.
On Aug. 13 at Christ Cathedral Church at noon, Khan's voice and tabla will reverberate off the stained glass windows.
"It's my first performance for MusicFest (Vancouver)," he said.
Khan, 37, was recognized by the City of Edmonton after receiving its Salute to Excellence Award and he made history as the first Indian classical ghazal (poetry in Urdu) and tabla player at the National Folk Alliance and Canada Music Festivals.
"I had a natural affinity towards rhythm," he said as to why he was drawn to music. "I had many dreams and hallucinations, when I was younger, about four wise gurus telling me to learn this composition and learn this composition."
Khan has also toured for 30 years internationally as a tabla player and vocalist. He's also collaborated and recorded with other musicians across the globe.
"World music brings everyone from every race together," he explained. "Being a musician makes me an ambassador to world peace."
Khan believes in the power of music and sees a shift in the growing popularity of world fusion.
"Music is my religion," he added. "But Canada still needs to open its doors to world music."
His album, Mushtari - A Live Concert, was recently nominated for the 2011 Western Canada Music Awards in the World Album of the Year category.
"I've been very lucky and very blessed to work with so many different musicians in my life, . and I'm honoured that I've been nominated."
Khan has been living in New West with his wife for the past three years after leaving Edmonton.
"We decided we wanted to expand our horizons," he said. "There's a much bigger world music scene here. We're very happy."
He also offers classes in Indian music.
His Aug. 13 performance will also feature Burnaby sitar player Mohamed Assani.
To find out more, visit his website at www.cassiuskhan. com. For more on MusicFest Vancouver, see www.musicfest vancouver.ca.
