KARACHI, July 31: In a no-frill performance with absolute command over classical music, leading vocalist Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan enthralled the audience at a function organized by the All Pakistan Music Conference on Saturday night.

Gently stroking the chords of the surmandal that sat on his lap, the Jalandhar-born artiste prefaced his performance with a rendition of Raag Jogeshwari, which is combination of Raag Bageshri of the Kafi Thaath and Raag Jog of the Khammach Thaath. His alaap was a bit short and he briskly moved onto bilampat as tabla maestro Ustad Basheer Khan began to accompany him on the percussion instrument. Abdul Ghafoor Soomro accompanied him on the harmonium and Zahid Lashari on the tanpura.

Connoisseurs of classical music appreciated his taiyari as Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan executed taanain, sargam, zamzamey and murkian with remarkable lucidity. Not surprisingly, his Awaz-kalam — which could be loosely translated as tonality — bore a striking similarity to that of Ustad Ameer Khan, whom he regards as his spiritual mentor.

Since Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan is also extremely fond of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali, he chose Raag Des of the Khammach Thaath to sing his bandish -– kali ghata ghir aiyi. The musical programme would have ended at a soulful rendition of Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali’s famous thumri -– yaad piya ki aiye -– had well-known sitar maestro Nafees Ahmad not insisted on Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan’s singing the tarana composed by Ustad Ameer Khan in Raag Hans Dhun.

Impressed by the effortless dexterity with which Ustad Basheer Khan played the tabla, Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan said the people of Karachi were fortunate that they had the country’s best tabla player in Ustad Basheer Khan.

Earlier, Sajid Hussain played the sitar. He learnt the art of playing the famed string instrument from his father, Ustad Fida Hussain, his maternal uncle, Ustad Kabir Khan, and sitar maestro Ustad Rais Khan.

Sharif Awan of the All Pakistan Music Conference conducted the programme and spoke about the art of Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan.