Ustad Amjad Ali Khan joins his sons and grandsons for a Sarod quintet in New York

Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performs at New York along with his sons and grandsons

“What else can I say? We are all emotional feeling blessed,” says Ayaan Ali Bangash, son of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, smiles serenely. We’re chatting over a cup of coffee ahead of the musician’s performance at Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Symphony Space in New York.

The show marks the culmination of a Europe and America tour that is special for more reasons than one. Of course, it is the preamble to Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s first collaboration with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, debuting his concerto, Samagam. But an even more special debut lies at the center of the celebration: this tour is the first time that Ayaan’s sons, Abeer and Zohaan, join their father, uncle, and grandfather in a quintet performance.

“The world is used to seeing us as a trio: now, they will see us as a quintet,” says the Ustad. He can’t help but reminisce his first overseas tour in 1963 with kathak exponent Pt. Birju Maharaj. His sons joined him in the early 1990s when they were around ten, the same age that his grandchildren are now. “Life has truly come full circle,” he adds with a serene smile.

Abeer and Zohaan made their first stage appearance during a five-city tour in India that included performing at the Grand Theatre in Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. The Ustad’s journey too began when he was very young under the watchful eyes of his father-sarod exponent Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan.

“Gwalior has always been a place of musical soul, ever since the existence of Miya Tansen. I was blessed to be born, both into a family of musicians and amidst a culture and community of artistic brilliance,” says the Ustad.

““My grandsons teach me every day — over the last year, they’ve introduced me to Justin Bieber, BTS, Ronaldo and Messi!” he laughs, as Ayaan joins the conversation.