Today, I received news from friends Zulfikar and Saqib from Jamshoro that my dear friend and collaborator Ustad Anb Jogi passed away. He was performing at Sewan Sharif and died of a heart attack.
What can I say about this wonderful human being? He was an incredible musician. He applied his deep knowledge of classical tabla to dholak and created something unmatched. We collaborated on several projects over the years and he always provided a depth of knowledge and love in creating musical excellence, without ego and brought out the best in an ensemble.
We became dear friends, above and beyond the wonderful work we created together. His efforts were vital in putting together groups of musicians to record music for my short film ‘Gul’, two ‘Girnari Jogi Group’ (first album, second album) albums, a ‘Shah Jo Raagi’ album, a solo album for sitarist Shahid Ali and 6 albums based on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. These were challenging experiences, helped by several kind people, but at the core of it all was Ustad Anb Jogi, without whom none of it would be possible.
Over the years, we were in contact on the phone, via whatsapp and I would get glimpses of Ustad sahib’s travels to perform in Dubai, the UK and Canada. He was a sought after accompanist, and to those in the know, an excellent music director. You could see the trust and respect that senior, contemporary and younger musicians had for him. People who really knew their work, looked to him for guidance during recording sessions. He could pick up almost any instrument and sing the part, or play it as instruction for others. He deserved far more recognition than he received. Though respected in his community, his classical musicianship was an area we tried to bring to a wider audience. I often spoke of him to institutions and groups that had the means to bring musicians out to the world with that level of respect.
In addition to this, I learned about his efforts to support his family and the larger Jogi community who during his lifetime went from wanderers to sedentary life. It was a huge change, that meant much reevaluation of how to live and how to survive. He supported much of his extended family financially and in so many ways that I will never know.
As if all of that was not enough, he was a wonderful friend. We shared meals together, accomplishments and challenges. I think of him always as I talk to people about our collaborations and the love that I have for all that he shared and all that he was as a much cherished human being. In recent times I have been in touch with his son Hakim Jogi, who under his guidance has become a gifted singer. He was a grandfather, a husband, a father, a community leader, an excellent musician and to me, always a dear friend.
Photos below. From the last time I met Ustad Sahib in London with my wife and son, to session photos taken by friend Saqib Ali and the second last photo by Saeed Mangee sahib from our first collaboration and the last photo, from our initial meeting thanks to Fatah Daudpoto sahib and Suffi Bilal Khalid sahib.
