Ustad Ahmedjan Thirakhwa

Ustad Ahmed Jan Khan "Thirakwa" was an Indian tabla player, commonly considered the preeminent soloist among tabla players of the 20th century, and among the most influential percussionists in the history of Indian Classical Music. He was known for his mastery of the fingering techniques and aesthetic values of various tabla styles, technical virtuosity, formidable stage presence, and soulful musicality. While he had command over the traditional tabla repertoire of various gharanas, he was also distinguished by the way in which he brought together these diverse compositions, his reinterpretation of traditional methods of improvisation, and his own compositions. His solo recitals were of the first to elevate the art of playing tabla solo to an art in its own right in the popular mind. His style of playing influenced many generations of tabla players including his nephew ustad Rashid Mustafa who has succeeded the "Thirakwa" lineage with his contribution to Indian classical music. leading his ideas is also his grandson Shariq Mustafa who has often been cited as the "prince of tabla" and was featured on "In tune with the rhythm" on Saturday, 3 September 2016.