Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan

Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan, son of late Ustad Ali Jan Khan of Allahabad is the acknowledged premier Shehnai maestro of Eastern India. He is from a family of renowned shehnai exponents from Benaras. His grandfather the late Ustad Wazir Ali Khan of Benaras Gharana was an eminent musician who was the first Indian to demonstrate Indian Classical Music on Shehnai. Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan received his training from his maternal uncle Late Ustad Nazir Hussain Khan & his paternal uncle Late Ustad Imdad Hussain Khan Of Benaras Gharana. He also took training from Late Pandit Tansen Pandey in vocal under Saini Gharana.

Soft,Subtle & sweet tone presented in a melodious manner are some of Ustadji's salient features. The purity of the raga also depicts his solid traditional background. Ustadji is known for his innovative style and mastery over the classical, semi-classical and folk music repertoire.

Over the span of his career, Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan has received a multitude of awards. Prominent among those are the All Bengal Music Conference Award, Gavati Devi Music award, Tansen Samaroh Gold Medal and the Bishwa Banga Sammelan Award to mention as few. Ustadji has been extensively recognized by premier cultural organizations in India and abroad for his superlative contribution to Indian music.

Ustad Ali Ahmad Hussain Khan has toured the globe, including performances in Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, France, Tunisia, Singapore, Indonesia, Hongkong and the Philippines. He has participated in severl music festivals abroad such as North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, Bath Music Festival In London, the Indo-German Festival in Germany and the World Music festival for Christian Armenia.

Subhen Chatterjee, one of the most sensitive tabla players of today, has indeed blossomed into an able and energetic tabaliya who genuinely enjoys his art. He bases his style of playing to Lucknow Gharana that he learnt from his illustrious Guru tabla maestro Pandit Swapan Chowdhury. Not restricting himself to one single Gharana-Subhen went on to learn the intricacies & beauty of other Gharanas that he introduced in his playing & which has made his style of playing so unique & distinctive.

Sri Chatterjee has already accompanied outstanding musicians such as Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Smt. Girija Devi, Pt. Jasraj, Smt. Sobha Gurtu, Pt. V. G. Jog, Pt. Rajan-Sajan Misra, Ustad Rashid Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pt. Viswa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Ashish Khan, Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Pt. Manilal Nag, Ustad Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan, Sri Ronu Mazumder and many others and has earned a very good name both from the audience as well as the press. Subhen is also a very fine soloist.

Subhen Chatterjee has had the distinction of being one of the very few tabla players to have been participating regularly for the past few years in WOMAD (World Organisation of Music & Dance, founded by renowned guitar player Mr. Peter Gabriel) by collaborating with such distinguished artistes such as Paul Horn (Flautist), Mr. David Cosby (of Crosby, Still, Nash & Young famed) etc. Subhen has also created India’s leading fusion band, KARMA, (in the year 1985) which is still the only of its kind from the easter part of India.

His recent collaboration with renowned percussionist, SIVAMANI, has enabled him to form another unique fusion band called FRIENDS OF DRUMS (F.O.D) whose main objective is to help the lesser known yet very talented musicians sharing stage with renowned ones. F.O.D. has also planned for supporting old and handicapped musicians (financially or otherwise) who had served the music world for years.