KARACHI, Feb 1: Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan cast a spell over the audience at the Arts Council on Friday night as he sang one classical piece after another with admirable facility. It was his first solo performance in Karachi.

The music programme, tastefully titled Baithak, was organized by the music committee of the Arts Council.

A couple of amateur singers performed first. Rasheed Khan, a retired government official, sang a thumri as well as a ghazal by the leading Urdu poet Shaikh Ibrahim Zauq.

Veteran singer Salamat Ali introduced Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan, a son of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. The Ali Khan family represents a 500-year-old historical tradition of musicians of the Shamcharasi Gharana, descendants of two famed court musicians to the great Mughal emperor Akbar, Chand Khan and Suraj Khan.

Ustad Salamat Ali Khan was born in 1934 in the Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, father of an entire family of vocalist-musicians. He began singing at the age of nine with his brother Nazakat Ali Khan as the famed Ali Brothers.

They were internationally renowned as superstars in the 1960s and 1970s for their talent in the classical form of music. Now the next generation is becoming increasingly recognized for their great talents. The children are Sharafat Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan, Sukhawat Ali Khan and Riffat Salamat.

Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan first presented a Khayal. Holding a Surmandal in his hands, the unassuming Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan sang with tabla and harmonium accompaniment. According to music experts, the seeds of khayal were sown by the famous poet-musician, Amir Khusro. Khayal came into full bloom in the hands of master Sada Rang, the well-known khayal composer of the 18th century whose real name was Naimat Khan.

After khayal, Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan presented a thumri which was followed by a kafi. He said it was his family tradition to include a Kafi in their repertoire.

Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan underlined the need for organizing functions of serious classical music on a regular basis. Ustad Rais Khan, who was accompanied by his wife Bilqees Khanum, agreed with Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan.

The chairperson of the Arts Council music academy, Azra Riaz, said the cultural body had organized five programmes of classical music as part of Baithak series. She added that the Arts Council would also hold programmes of such nature and invite veteran artists from other cities.