Shafaat Ahmed Khan

Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan (1954-2005) New Delhi, India, was an exceptional and one of the leading Tabla Maestros in the field of Indian Classical Music.

Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan hailed from the "Delhi Gharana",and was the son and disciple of Tabla Maestro Ustad Chhamma Khan sahab who was a prominent exponent of the Delhi Gharana.Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan was famous for his mastery over clear bols and melodious tone of the tabla, accompaniment (sangat) and systematic improvisation.Ustad Shafaat ahmed Khan was considered one of the best accompanists of all time. During his active years ,He was one of the leading tabla maestros of India.He had worked on a very large scale both nationally and internationally.Shafaat Ahmed Khan was a recipient of "Padma Shree" award in 2003. He had performed Concerts extensively all around the world with classical artistes like Pt. Ravi Shankar, Pt. Nikhil Banerjee, Pt.Shiv Kumar Sharma, Ustd. Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Kishori Amonkar, Pt. Birju Maharaj, besides himself as solo artist. Khan had also played various Taal kacheris, Jugalbandis with carnatic artists like Vikku Vinayakram, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Balamurali Krishna, Vellore Ramabhadran, Sivamani, Shankar Mahadevan all around the world. Ustad shafaat ahmed khan was popular among artists because of his humble nature and down to earth attitude. Khan was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian award, "Padma Shri" in 2003.[1] He died in 2005 after being diagnosed with acute Hepatitis-B.[2]