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Asad Khan
Birth name	Gulrez Khan
Born	1982
Origin	Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India
Occupation(s)	Sitar Maestro, Composer and Music Producer
Instrument	Sitar
Website	www.asadsitar.com

‘Asad Khan' is an Indian sitar player, music composer and producer.

Asad khan belongs to the illustrious family of Mewati Gharana. He is deeply rooted in Indian Classical music, having studied exclusively under his father Ustad Siraj khan, an eminent, leading sitarist. His music has been perfected and handed down through generations in the family of Mewati musicians. Asad belongs to the 6th generation of the highly respected musical tradition of Mewati Gharana.

Early life

Asad Khan was born in Ahmedabad, Gujrat, India to Khairunisa and Ustad Siraj Khan. He started his initial training in Sitar at the age of 6 and started performing with his father from the age of 14. He also had a privilege to learn the intricacies of Khayal & Gayaki ang from his great grand father, Ustad Gulam Qadir Khan famous vocalist of Mewati Tradition.

Career

Asad khan plays Sitar, thrives on challenges, loves to crossover between Indian classical music & variety of genres including Jazz, Flamenco, Western Classical, Electronica, fusion, Folk, Thematic music to film scores and tries to achieve the never before result.

Asad has played at many prestigious concerts. He has played at Chandigarh Sangeet Sabha, Sangeet Research Academy, ICCR Concert to commemorate 50th year of Indian Independence, Bandish Sufi Music Festival (Doha - Qatar), YPS Youth music festival, AP tourism, India Today music group, Mumbai festival, Wood-Stock music festival, Jazz Yatra, Osho festival, Sanand Darbar, Baba Allauddin khan Sangeet Samaroh, Uttaradhikaar, Swami Haridas Sangeet Sabha, Indian Music group in LA(USA), Edinburgh music festival , Oxford music festival (Oxford UK) , SAA (UK), Desert festival Dubai (UAE), Concert for Dubai shopping festival(UAE), Sydney festival (Sydney, Australia), Alchemy festival (South Bank Centre- London), Opening Ceremony of Common Wealth games, 2010 (Delhi - India), Concert with London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall(London, UK), Cultural exchange concerts for the royal emirates with middle-east musicians. Asad has the honour of being the first Sitarist to Perform at the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize Concert 2010 at Oslo, Norway. And opened the Berlinale festival in Berlin 2013.

Also at the Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, at the Celtic Connection Music Fest in Glasgow Scotland with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Recently, he has featured at the ABU TV Song Festival in Tokyo Japan.

He has successfully performed at some of the most prestigious venues across the world like Ravindra Bharti , Nehru Centre, NCPA, Gujarat University, Salt-lake Stadium, Nehru stadium, Palace grounds, Royal festival hall, Nassau coliseum, Moses Mabhida Stadium, O2 Arena, Wembley Arena, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Birmingham LG Arena, Oxford town hall, American Airlines centre, Oslo Spektrum , PNE Coliseum, Oracle Arena Oakland, NHK Tokyo

Along with performing solo concerts, Asad has shared the stage with world famous artists, musicians, orchestras, music producers like Herbie Hancock , A R Rahman , India Arie, Barry Manilow, Colbie Caillat, Jamiroquai, the London Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Matt Dunkley) , the Norwegian Radio Orchestra (conducted by Nick Davies).

Asad works regularly with A R Rahman, the famous double Academy and Grammy award winning composer. Some of the famous films & albums Asad has collaborated with A.R. Rahman are, Jodha-Akbar, Raavan Jhoota hi Sahi, Sultan the warrior, Million Dollor Arm, Infinite Love, Queen, Nokia connections, India Common Wealth Games Theme Song for India, USA radio desi beat, Raanjhanaa, beyond the clouds, Kochadiiyaan, 99 Songs produced by A R Rahman.

Asad has played Sitar in the famous track 'Mausam & Escape' for the film "Slumdog Millonaire", which was highly acclaimed. This track played by Asad features in the top 10 Sitar collaboration songs. Asad is also a Sitar soloist artist for all A R Rahman concerts and world tour.

“Play the music, not the instrument” says Asad. His work is now notable for the way he has applied his expertise as a very fine Indian classical musician, composer and producer. From displaying the profundity of Indian raga frame work, a truly remarkable style of gayaki ang (vocal-style) to working with world renowned musicians from a range of traditions, creating innovative music that appeals to his generation as well as to his illustrious family music, Asad khan is truly the new-age world musician. As he says, “Music is the Universal Language of Mankind”… The Torch-Bearer of the famous Mewati Gharana. ASAD Continues to Spread Music And Love through His SITAR.

Discography

Albums

Connection by NOKIA - 2008
A Journey Through Anthems - 2011

Raunaq - Poet- Kapil Sibal - 2014

Infinite Love - 2012

HDFC Covid -19 Song - Hum Haar Nahi Maanenge -2020

Radio Desi Beat - 2013

Films

o1 - Raanjhanaa