Ustad Aslam Khan

A Living Legend

Aslam Hussain Khan has descended from the Hapur Gharana of Shadi Khan & Murad Khan whose achievements sound legendry. Ustad Shadi Khan and Ustad Murad Khan where the court musicians of Moghul Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. 

After an initial stint under his maternal uncle Haji Ustad Altaf Hussain Khan of the Khurja Gharana, Aslam Khan came under the tutelage of his brother-in-law, Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan Dilrang of Atrauli – Jaipur Gharana. There followed a fruitful period of twenty years in which Aslam Khan, blossomed into an artiste per excellence. Aslam Khan also studied under Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan Pran Piya of the Agra Gharana.

Ustad Aslam Khan, is the representative of 500 years old traditional musicians Family of the prestigious Khurja Gharana, Ataurali (Jaipur) Gharana, Agra Gharana and the Delhi Tanras Khan Gharana. These Gharanas have given India such giants as Haji Ustad Altaf Hussain Khan, Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan, Sangeet Samart Ustad Allahdiya Khan, Gayan  Acharya Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, Aftab-e-Mausiqui Ustad Fayyaz Khan, Ustad Khadim Hussain Khan and many other. The contribution of these music stalwarts, to the enrichment, promotion and popularity of Indian Music is monumental. 

Aslam Khan's inborn genius enabled him the diverse specialty of each respective gharanas in to and individual style which has tremendous aesthetic appeal. His Khayal singing is marked by a leisurely development (badath) of the ‘VILAMBIT’ while the ‘DRUT’ is embellished by a spectacular variation of speedy ‘TAANS’ and breath-taking ‘Layakar’.

Aslam Khan is a child prodigy and he gave his first stage performance at the age of twelve years. He is a Khandani Musician belonging to the near extinct world of “Guru Shishya” “Parampara”. This ‘gem of purest ray serene’, happily vegetates, in the dark unfathomed caves of sincere dedication and unalloyed devotion to music, blissfully unmindful of the honors or rewards.     
Aslam Khan also sings ‘Thumri’, ‘Tappa’, ‘Bhajans’, ‘Ghazals’, with equal command and mastery. Both emotional content as well as technical perfection are the outstanding attributes of his art. His performances, whether before a large audience or a select mehfil of connoisseurs have a lyrical charm which transport the listener to a world of beauty. Aslam Khan’s Khayal Gayaki is majestic. Its highlights are his leisurely development of Vilambit, Sargam, Boltans, Bolbaant, Soot-Meend and extremely Tayar Taans.

Ustad Aslam Khan’s music has extensively been Sangeet Natak Academy, N.C.P.A., All India Radio and Samwad Foundation. He has also recorded Two “CD” of Classical Music with a French Music Co.

In light music, Aslam Khan has carved an inviable niche in the hears of Ghazal lovers.

Imitation, some people feel, is the sincerest from of flattery. To Aslam Khan, it is an anesthesna. He has evolved his own art of presentation which brooks no compromise with purity and is yet, not circumscribed by tradition. His mastery over classical music becomes all the more highlighted in his ghazal, because to choose an apt “Raag” for communicating the emotion of poetry and to render it to perfection requires rare ability. As on today he has composed music for about 5000 ghazal. The fact that Aslam Khan achieves this bears testimony to his greatness. He has sung to appreciate audiences not only all over India but also abroad. Among the top classical vocalists and ghazal exponents of India and Pakistan, Ustad Aslam Khan is in a class of his own.

Aslam Khan's  innovative mind is ever exploring new avenues. He has several classical compositions under the pen name of “Khushrang” and he experiments with traditional raags to create beauty. His knowledge in classical music is very vast and authentic. His repertoire includes several rare Ragas and Compositions. Following in the footsteps of his mentor, Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan,  he has also written ghazals, some of which he has recorded. He has also trained number of disciples many of whom have become noted singers today, namely Manhar Udas & Brothers. Vajahat Hussain, Chandra Kothari, Kamla Jhangiani, Mansi Kanekar, Anwar, Usha Amonkar, Vasanthi Raju and many others. 

Ustad Aslam Khan's art rest dedicatedly on a strong classical foundation, like a Shahin (falcon) poised for flight, ever ready to take to the skies of fantasy and imagination on wings of beauty, truth an everlasting music! Ustad Aslam Khan, is an extensively traveled musician, having toured United Kingdom, U.A.E., Africa and Pakistan. He is a top class broadcaster and have appeared on Doordarshan, several times. Ustad Aslam Khan is a celebrated artist, and is awarded with several Honours like Surmani, Svar Vilas, Sur Sangam and many others. He has been serving the cause of India Music since last more than 40 years. Ustad Aslam Khan Sahab has to his credit not less than 40 Classical vocal and Ghazals Cassettes popular among them are, Darbari, Parampara, Gurugyan, Magnificent Khayals (Classical) and Teri Yaad Mien, Kashish, Madhosh, Charagh, Izhar, Mehekti Ghazlen (Ghazals).

The response of critics as well as music lovers to his long-playing records and pre-recorded cassettes has been over whelming favourable. His art was once compared by an admirer to the ‘TAJ-MAHAL’ – a massive structure embellished by exquisitely delicate carving. The total effect can be summed up in one Phrase – “aesthetically satisfying and “traditionally authentic”. 

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