Delhi Gharana, known to be the oldest gharana of tablas is popular for its technique of using one’s nimble fingers to create powerful sounds as opposed to the Punjab gharana technique. And of the most foremost gurus of this gharana is Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan, known for his sheer genius like ability to focus on sound, which is crisp and subtle compared to the loud overtones that we normally come across.
Come Sunday and some of the well-known musicians who have worked with Ustad Shafaat will be paying him a tribute to honour his legacy. The concert will commence with a performance by Yogesh Samsi (Tabla Solo) to be followed with a vocal recital by Rashid Khan. The accompanying artistes would be Murad Ali (Sarangi), Ajay Joglekar (Harmonium) and Satyajeet Talwalkar (Tabla).
Padmashri Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan has played with some of the greatest musicians in the last four decades including Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Jasraj among others. He is also popular for his expansive repertoire.
Yogesh Samsi, who will be delivering a solo recital says that Ustad Shafaat was a great source of inspiration to him. “He meant a lot to me and was like my elder brother. His performances were power-packed and his music literally enthralled the audiences,” he says. Samsi also elaborates on the difficult technique that Ustad Shafaat mastered and displayed it with great ease and efficiency. “It was quite something to sit in his presence and watch him perform. The tone of his music was sweet sounding and attractive, different from what we are used to normally,” says Samsi.
Ustad Shafaat Khan went beyond music to explore and experiment in the world of music. His colleagues and co-artistes fondly remember him as a down-to-earth person whose music struck a chord instantly. “He was an extremely friendly and a humble human being. He’d seen the growth of music over four decades and played with some of the greatest artistes in this country. He was a dynamic musician in every aspect and was open to all kinds of music. That showed the flexibility in his music,” says popular tabla artiste Satyajit Talwalkar, who will also be paying him a tribute.