Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan


Ali Ahmed Hussain Khan was a shehnai specialist from India. He was born in Kolkata.

Background

His grandfather Wazir Ali Khan was the first to demonstrate Indian classical music on shehnai at Buckingham Palace. His father Ali Jan Khan and uncle Nazir Hussain Khan and Imdad Hussain Khan of Benares were also renowned shehnai specialists. He died after a long illness on 16 March 2016.

Career

He taught shehnai at Sangeet Research Academy, Calcutta beginning in 1974. He was regularly featured on All India Radio and Indian Television. He holds the distinction of composing the signature tune for Indian Television with Pandit Ravi Shankar. He played jugalbandhi both commercially and in live performances with artists such as Vilayat Hussain Khan, Pandit Manilal Nag on sitar, V. G. Jog on violin and Munewar Ali Khan, vocals. His recordings are numerous and under a variety of labels.

Concerts

Ali Ahmed traveled in India and abroad. His concert tours included countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Russia, Tunisia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines over a span of twenty years. On several occasions he has been invited/sponsored by governments and/or music festivals. He performed a duet with pianist Peter Michael Hamel at the Indo-German Festival. He participated in Music Festival Raag-Mala in the U.S. and Canada in 1994.

Awards