The percussionist Vinayakram Selvaganesh was born into a family of musicians, and he studied music at his grandfather's institution. His reputation rapidly grew, and he was soon playing alongside some of the greatest musicians in his native India. One of the leading instrumentalists in the Carnatic tradition - a music genre of Southern India - Selvaganesh is equally at ease in the jazz world. In the West, he is mostly known for his work with Swedish bassist Jonas Hellborg, and with guitarist John McLaughlin in the group Remember Shakti.