Zuheb Khan, born on 2nd March 1993, belongs to the famous Ajrada Gharana. He is the son of Ustad Naushad Ahmed Khan who is the fourth generation of musicians hailing from the gharana. Zuheb took his training from well known tabla player of Ustad Akram Khan and grand father Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan.
Zuheb started his learning when he was only 3 years old. His first stage performance was at the tender age of five at the Russian embassy with his father. Zuheb has performed in various prestigious festivals all over in India like Harballabh Sangeet Sabha in Jalander where he stood 1st, Kashi Baithak in Delhi, Darpan Music Festival, American Embassy, Australian Embassy to name a few. He has performed in major cities such as Delhi. Jaipur, kolkata, Raipur and Banaras. He has performed in a total of 37 concerts organized by SPIC MACAY all over India. He was awarded the gold medal at the tender age of 14 by the great sarod maestro SH. SHARAN RANI. He has also given solo concerts in Hydrabad and Jaipur and performed at the all India radio festival. He has performed with many legendary artists like sitar maestro Ustad Nishat Khan, Pandit Shubhendra Rao, violin maestro Anupriya Deotale, Pandit Vikas Kushalkar, and many more artists in India and abroad.
The Ajrara Gharana, categorized as playing in the kinar baj, was founded in the nineteenth century. Clarity of sound is the hallmark of the gharana’s playing style. The Ajrara gharana includes bol-patterns that are rather complicated with barabar and ari laya. Zuheb is arguably the finest contemporary performer of this style.
Zuheb is appreciated both in the field of percussion and music throughout the world as an international phenomenon. A classical tabla virtuoso of the highest order, his consistently brilliant and exciting performances have not only established him as a national treasure in his own country but also abroad. His playing is marked by his uncanny intuition and masterful improvisational dexterity. Founded in formidable knowledge and study, he has not let his genius rest there.
He’s an outstanding musician. I would disagree with the statement ‘belongs to the famous Ajrada Gharana’. I think it’s a little known gharana with relatively few top class proponents, but Zuheb Ahmed Khan’s playing is of very high calibre.