Musicians of the calibre of Ustad Vilayat Khan are born once in a lifetime... and their legacy carries on much after they have departed. Navras Records Ltd, UK, and Sony Nad, India, in association with the Ustad Inayat Khan Music Foundation, will be presenting a tribute to the legendary Sitar Maestro on his death anniversary. Pt. Ulhas Khashalkar and Sujat Khan will perform on this Memorial Concert. The Ustad Vilayat Khan Memorial Concert will be held at Nehru Centre, Worli,on Monday, March 13 at 6.30 pm.

Khan sahab was the most influential sitarist of the post-independence period, and amongst the greatest musicians of the 20th century.  He represented the sixth generation of the Etawah Gharana, a lineage of distinguished musicians, founded in the 18th century. Music came to him naturally. His grandfather Ustad Imdad Khan was the creator of the modern sitar and surbahar, and his father Ustad Inayat Khan was one of the most influential sitarists of his times.

His maternal grandfather Ustad Bande Hassan Khan and maternal uncle Ustad Zinda Hassan Khan - both vocalists - and his paternal uncle Ustad Wahid Khan, a distinguished Sitar and Surbahar player groomed Ustad Vilayat Khan. With sound training in vocalism and a mastery over the Sitar and the Surbahar, Ustadji became the creator of the revolutionary Gayaki Ang of the sitar, which largely overcame the technical limitations of the instrument to simulate the experience of modern vocalism - primarily Khayal and Thumree.
At 17, Vilayat Khan exploded on the Hindustani classical music scene in 1944 at the Vikramaditya Music Conference. He was instantly hailed as an Ustad. From then till his demise, Ustadji remained amongst the most respected and popular Hindustani classical musicians in India and abroad.

Mr. Vibhaker Baxi, Chairman & Managing Director of Navras Records Ltd., UK, said from London that prior to Ustadji’s demise, he was exclusive with Navras Records. “It is very saddening that he is not amongst us today but we feel privileged and honoured to present this concert to keep his memory alive,” he said.

Talking about the emotional significance of the concert, Santoor Maestro and Director of Navras Records Pt Satish Vyas said, “Ustad Vilayat Khan was one of the role models of Indian musicians.”

Invitation cards will be available on first come first serve basis at Rhythm House (Tel No: 2284 2835 & Maharashtra Watch Company (Tel No: 2422 3011) Dadar.