About
Biography
Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan is the present Khalifa of the Lucknow Gharana for Tabla. He inherited this role from his father, the late Ustad Afaq Hussain Khan, one of the most respected figures of the gharana. This position comes from years of disciplined training and deep involvement with the tradition, not from title alone.
He was inducted into the Lucknow style of Tabla playing at the age of seven and grew within a system shaped by rigorous riyaaz and direct oral teaching. His training focused on both technique and the aesthetic values of the gharana, such as clarity of bol, finesse of touch, and a close relationship between rhythm and melody. These qualities define his playing.
Ustad Ilmas Hussain Khan represents the living continuity of the Lucknow Gharana. His performances keep the gharana active on contemporary stages, allowing inherited compositions to breathe in the present.
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