Tabla drummer and vocalist Daniel Paul earned his Tal Vadya Bid degree in the classical music of India from the Ali Akbar College of Music in 1984. Nine years of intense study under India’s great masters (Ali Akbar Khan, Zakir Hussain, Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Swapan Chaudhuri and Chitresh Das), found Daniel on the teaching and performing staff and a member of the New Maihar Band, the College Orchestra and Tabla Drum Ensembles. For 7 years he also served as personal assistant to his teacher, the late legendary Maestro Khan, accompanying on the background tamboura (stringed drone) instrument on tours including the rare quartet appearances with Ravi Shankar, Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain at Carnegie Hall and festivals throughout India.