I attended Ustad Aslam Hussain Khan’s program last night at Dadar-Matunga cultural centre and it was impressive. It is the best I have heard him in a few years and everything was in place, his voice (fluid and beautiful), accompanment (Wajahat and other students), and incredible compositions. He started with rag Bhim, like bhimpalas but with both ga’s and both ni’s, Alladiya Khan’s (ahmed piya) composition and the drut “prem rang”. Next was rag malvi. His version of that is is marwa with shudh ga and lalit-like phrase with both madhyams in descending. I believe the drut was Azmat Hussain’s composition (dilrang). After interval was megh with both gandhars, unusual but effective with the superb compositions. Next was a combination of nand, kedar and bhup. I will ask Khansaheb when I see him next what the rag is called. After that rare compositions in bahar and sohini. Maybe they aren’t rare but I haven’t heard them before. I like the vocal accompanment that Wajahat provides- free and uninhibited. That is the Agra style. I wish the timid ninnies who too often accompany the singers would learn something. Often they are great singers but seem too afraid to step on the guru’s toes. Admitted that some of the singers are afraid of the accompanist messing up the “perfection”, or stealing the thunder. Whatever the psychology active accompanment adds a tremendous amount to a concert, and gives credit to the soloist as an obviously good teacher! Wajahat, despite good training and the Ruby Mansion’s pedigree all too obviously doesn’t practise. Aslam Hussain Khan obviously does.
I have read about the wonderful and true comments and review about the concert of Ustad Aslam Hussain Khan
“Khushrang”s vocal concert at Dadar Matunga Circle. Its true that most of my accompaniments with Ustad Aslam Khansahab are always been highly appreciated. He is my matternal uncle and guru as well.
Though I have popularly given more ghazals and sufi music concerts in my musical career,but I have also definetely given successful solo classical vocal concerts also which were highly praised. I definetely do a lot of reyaz at home and have a big repertoire of classical bandishes of my father Gayan Samrat Ustad Azmat Hussain Khan Dilrang and other doyens of Atrauli-Jaipur,Khurja and specially Agra Gharanas. Recently I gave a classical vocal conceert at Karnataka Sangh Hall (1st Aug.2010).I sang Miyan Ki Todi(Both Dilrang compositions)Shudh Sarang”s drut bandish in Persian and in the end a composition of Ustad Yunus Hussain Khan Darpan in raga Miyan ki Sarang. The programme was attended by a huge audience who appreciated and encouraged me.Now it depends how many music circles and other fans invite me for vocal concert in future. I have preserved what I have learnt from my father and Gurus and wish to give the best possible I can. Thanks and regards. VAJAHAT HUSSAIN KHAN Website:www.dilrangacademy.org mob.9821269505
Vajahat bhai, Thanks for your interesting post. Please pardon me for my comment on your practise. I know you are a good singer and I wish you the best and am looking forward to hearing your concerts in the future. I am sorry that I missed your program at karnatak sangh. I would have loved to have heard those compositions. James
Greetings to both our host and khansaheb,
first of all, I’d like to congratulate you on the site, as it is very enjoyable and interesting read.
I was also wondering if the concert in question was recorded? Also wondering if khansaheb and Ustad AHK have any plans to visit Australia? We’d love to them here!
Thank you for your comments. Yes, it was recorded. I would like to put some of it on Youtube. I think that the weakness of the video recordings is the audio quality and the really incredible voice of Khansaheb is not shown in its full glory. Khansaheb has no plans right now to visit Australia.