MUMBAI: Pancham Nishad presents a musical tribute to tabla virtuoso Shafaat Ahmed Khan at Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Sabhagruha, 252, Veer Savarkar marg, Shivaji Park, Dadar on Wednesday, 24 July from 7.30 p.m. onwards. Entry to the concert is free.

The first session of the concert will commence with the vocal performance by renowned vocalist Sanjeev Chimmalgi accompanied by Vishwanath Shirodkar on (tabla) and Seema Shirodkar (harmonium). The concert will conclude with the solo tabla performance by living legend Swapan Choudhuri on tabla accompanied by Sabir Khan on Sarangi.

Shafaat Bhai, with his incredible ability as a performer, had swayed the music and rhythm lovers spread across the globe with his nimble fingers moving on the tabla creating rhythmic yet melodious sound resonance, which was nothing short of magic. He was one amongst those few who could bring out the beautiful melodic nuances in the rhythms of the tabla. It seems only apt that the memory of this amazing musician and personality remains alive eternally.

Pancham Nishad creatives director Shashi Vyas says, “It was in 1981 that I heard Shafaat bhai for the first time. He had been called to accompany the living legend Padma Vibhushan Birju Maharaj and world-renowned Kathak dancer in the world.  When the two of them commenced their performance, the two hours thereafter was sheer magic.  The entire performance replete with extraordinary dance steps and movements were matched equally by extraordinary rhythmic beats played on tabla by Shafaat bhai creating a thrilling resonance seldom heard. I was completely mesmerized and spellbound during the amazing concert. The concert still is an unforgettable experience for me. This tribute is a small attempt on our part to honor the man and the musician for his exceptional contribution to the world of Indian music.”

The first session of the evening will be a vocal performance by renowned Vocalist Sanjeev Chimmalgi disciple of Pt. C. R. Vyas. Born in a family with a legacy of music, He is one of the most prominent Hindustani classical vocalists of today. Sanjeev’s singing is noted for its fluidity and grace and ability to weave the various important aspects of the Kirana, Gwalior and Agra gharanas. He has also been an avid explorer of popular forms such as bhajan, sugam sangeet, film-song (playback) and contemporary fusion. He has won several prestigious awards such as Sudhir Phadke Yuvonmesh Award, Zee Gaurav Nomination, Maharashtra Shasan Puraskar Nomination, Sangeetha Shiromani Award and many more. He has performed in prestigious festivals in India and worldwide.

The concert will be concluded by the living legend Tabla Maestro Swapan Chaudhuri’s solo Tabla performance. Tabla Maestro Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri is a phenomenon in the arena of Indian Classical Music. He is a recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Academy Award, the American Academy of Artists Award, Excellence in Performing Arts Award from the Global Indian Congress in San Francisco, and has been nominated to the esteemed International Percussive Arts Society's Hall of Fame. He was tutored by the late Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas of the Lucknow Gharana. Through his clarity and elegance of performance, both as an accompanist and as a soloist, that he has achieved such notoriety throughout the world as a true master of tabla.

The event promises to be the one worth remembering as two artistes will showcase their immense talent commemorating the maestro Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan.