BHARAT RATNA SHEHNAI NAWAZ

Evergreen instrumentalist Ustaad Bismillah Khan's legend series  in a   5 cassette pack was released by Saregama - HMV. It transcendences minds beyond worldly pleasures. The five volume album covers morning ragas , midday ragas, early night ragas , late night ragas and jugalbandies respectively. It is priced at Rs. 350/-.

GUNJ UTHI SHEHNAI - USTAAD BISMILLAH KHAN

Ustaad Bismillah Khan's name is synonymous with Shehnai, which is perhaps one of the most popular Indian musical instruments because of its extremely sweet sound. An ancient musical instrument, its presence is condered almost auspicious at Hindu marriage functions, holy celebrations, temples prayer meetings and other such occasions. Ustaad Bismillah Khan is the most outstanding Shehnai player and has attained mastery over the instruments. Born in a small Bihar Village he spent his childhood years in the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the river Ganga, where his uncle was a Shehnai player in the famous Visvanath temple. The young Khan soon familiarized himself with the various forms of music of Uttar Pradesh like Thumri, Chaiti, Kajri, Sawni and later studied and mastered Khayal and other Raaga. Ustaad Bismillah Khan's Shehnai is sometimes sweet, sometimes soft but always vibrantly alive with the sonorous rich aalapi music that holds his audience in spell bound attention. In the famous film Gunj Uthi Shehnai, it was Ustaad Bismillah Khan who spun his magic with his Shehnai. His mesmerizing Shehnai playing has been regaled the world over. The Indian government has bewstowed the maestro with the title of Padmashri, Padmabhushan, Padmavibhushan and Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of the country. The genius was recently in the city and performed at a concert presented by the Times Group and at "Shradhanjali", a two day tribute to Late Ustaad Allarakha and Smt. Baageshwari Devi at ISKCON auditorium

AN USTAD ON THE RISE

The moment music legend Naushad heard the 11 year old toddler sing, the maestro declared Zeeshan Khan as a child prodigy. Master Zeeshan has the makings of a future Ustad. Belonging to Rampur Seshwan Gharana the kid, learned the nuances of Hindustani classical music from his father Ustad Maqbool Husain.The moments of glory for the young Zeeshan came three years back when he performed under the banner of Naushad Academy of Hindustani Sangeet where the chief guest of the function late Tabla Maestro Ustad Alla Rakha commented "Zeeshan is the future Ustad of Indian Classical Music". On his way to becoming one of India's great Hindustani classical singers, Zeeshan sings "Tappa" in Raag Khamaj with a very lucid style. He has enthralled audiences with his rendition of "Tappa" and "Bageshree", one of the most difficult raags of Hindustani classical music.Zeeshan's joy knew no bounds when last year he was selected alongwith Rimpa Shiva of Calcutta and two other kids from Norway to perform in front of a packed audience at St. Andrews Auditorium, Bandra on children's day where Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia played the flute. Winner of various prizes and awards at school and college level competitions Zeeshan who is just in the 9th standard at Thakur Vidya Mandir School, has given several live performances. A regular artist at the All India Radio, Zeeshan has been featured in Doordarshan's "Brilliant children of India", BBC, Star Plus, Music Asia and various other channels. As far as Zeeshan's future is concerned, his father Ustaad Maqbool Husain proudly states, "I am sure that with the blessings of music legends like Naushad, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Late Ustad Alla Rakha, Zeeshan is destined to achieve exemplary recognition".