Concert pays tribute to the late tabla virtuoso Shafaat Ahmed Khan

Aneesh Pradhan (on tabla) at a concert

Noted tabla player Aneesh Pradhan (accompanied by Sudhir Nayak on the harmonium) and vocalist Devaki Pandit (accompanied by Siddesh Bicholkar on the harmonium and Mandar Puranik on tabla) will perform at a concert organised by Pancham Nishad to pay tribute to the late tabla virtuoso Shafaat Ahmed Khan.

Shafaat Ahmed Khan

Pradhan feels privileged to have been roped in for a rendition at the memorial concert. "I had heard Shafaat ji play at concerts. He belonged to the Delhi gharana. I will therefore present a repertoire from this gharana in addition to compositions from others at my solo recital," he says.

Devaki Pandit

Shashi Vyas, director, Pancham Nishad, says a 1981 concert in which Khan performed with Kathak legend Pandit Birju Maharaj is his favourite. He wanted to celebrate the late legend with this concert. "The two hours were magical. The recital was replete with extraordinary dance steps matched by extraordinary tabla playing by Shafaat bhai. We want to celebrate his contribution to Indian music," says Vyas.