Ustad Sabir Khan

Ustad Sabir Khan (1959–2026) was one of the leading tabla players of his generation and a torchbearer of the Farrukhabad gharana. Born on 4 December 1959 in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, he learned first from his grandfather, Ustad Masit Khan, and then from his father, Ustad Karamatullah Khan, a celebrated master of the Farrukhabad style.

Over a long career he accompanied many of the greatest names in Hindustani music, among them Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Girija Devi, and he was equally admired as a soloist for the clarity and melodic sweetness of his playing. He performed widely abroad, including in London, Paris, New York and Toronto, and composed music for Hindi, Bengali and Tamil films.

In Kolkata he founded the Ustad Karamatullah Khan Music Society in his father’s memory, where he trained many students. His honours include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012) and the title Aftab-e-Tabla from the Rampur Music Conference (1990).

On Aimrec, Ustad Sabir Khan accompanies santoor maestro Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya on The Exotic Santoor. He passed away in Kolkata on 14 May 2026, aged 66.