Habib Khan

Composer - Sitarist - Musician - Music Director - Producer

New Releases:

X DOT 25 MUSIC RELEASES BUTTERFLY BY HABIB KHAN FROM LONGING ALBUM

"...Resoundingly entrancing" says BAM Magazine. "...Fusion...in favor of ensemble fluidity, which has a seductive and serpentine appeal" - SF Bay Guardian.

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the world today. Classical and progressive sitar virtuoso of the highest level, he was born into a family of musicians and can trace his lineage back several generations to when classical music enjoyed the patronage of the nobility and royalty of India. He began his training at the tender age of five under the strict eye of his accomplished father, Ustad Hameed Jaffar Khan. The Jaffar Khan family was from Indore and were well known for their unique style of playing the sitar, melding the effect of the human voice and the instrumental tone into a harmonious whole. Habib Khan has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative innovations.

He is as much at ease with light classical and religious music as he is with pure classical renderings of ragas. Habib Khan lives and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area and performs all over the world. He is a genre-defying sitarist and has composed music for several CD's and performed with world class musicians including Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri, Pandit Ramesh Misra, Pandit Vikku Vinayakram, Hamze Aul Din and others. He composed Fire Dance (With Pat Martino, Zakir Hussain, Peter Block, and Ilya Rayzman). He also produced music for a yoga video series by Vasanti Bhat.

ALBUM DETAILS:

“Eyes over IndiA” - Vol. 1: Ecstasy

Style/Genre: World/Indian/Fusion
Instrumentation: Sitar, Tabla, Santur, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Drums, Cello, Bass, Sax, Flute.

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the USA today. He has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative inventions. He performs classical Indian music with the unusual distinction that it is between sitar and guitar. Ecstasy showcases the jazzy, improvisational side of Habib Khan's music.

1. Ecstasy 5:26
2. Indian Blues 4:57
3. Tears at Dawn 5:44
4. Mountain Heights 6:37
5. Triangle 3:33
6. Raindrops 5:18
7. Beautiful Face 6:36
8. Waterfall 4:22
9. Zeeshan 6:45
10. Trio Song 5:28

Item # 1024

Cover Graphics: Farnaz Tasbihgoo

Performers

Artist / Instrument / Tracks

Habib Khan / Sitar / All
Swapan Chaudhuri / Tabla / 2, 6
Danny Gottlieb / Drum Set / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Matthew Montfort / Guitar / 2, 3, 4, 7, 10
George Brooks / Saxophone / 1, 3, 7, 8, 10
Ira Stein / Piano / 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10
Alan Kushan / Santoor / 1, 3, 7
Hans Christian / Bass / 6, 8
John Waller / Drum Set / 10
Mary Ellen Donald / Percussion / 2, 5, 6

Tracks

# Title / Raag / Taal

1          Ecstasy / Jog / 4-beat
2          Indian Blues / Habibi Blues / Keharwa
3          Tears at Dawn / Bairagi / 4-beat
4          Mountain Heights / Pahadi / Keharwa
5          Triangle / Charukeshi / 4-beat
6          Raindrops / Hansadhwani / Keharwa
7          Beautiful Face / Piloo / Dadra
8          Waterfall / Mix / Keharwa
9          Zeeshan / Bhairavi / Mix
10        Trio Song / Dhun in Mixolydian Mode / Deepchandi

ALBUM DETAILS:

“Eyes over IndiA” - Vol. 2: Tranquility

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players today. He has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative inventions. In this release, Habib Khan explores the "Khayal" style which is a slow vocal style that is unusual to perform on Sitar. For the first piece he has chosen raag Yaman, which is traditionally an evening raag. The second piece is an alaap which is performed without percussion. The last piece features the late Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan, the son of the late Ustad Salamat Ali Khan on a vocal and Sitar duet (Jugalbandi).

1. Raag Yaman 31:36
2. Raag Patadip 15:16
3. Raag Narayani 12:10

Item # 1025

Cover Graphics: Farnaz Tasbihgoo

Performers

Habib Khan: Sitar
Ustad Sharafat Ali Khan: Vocals on track 3

ALBUM DETAILS:

“Eyes over IndiA” - Vol. 3: Zeeshan

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players today. He has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative inventions. This is an early fusion project of Habib Khan that demonstrates his ability to combine Indian Sitar with a variety of western instruments to create a wide range of compositions, each with its own unique texture and emotions.

Personnel and Instruments:
Habib Khan: Vocal, Sitar, Tanpura, Bell
Aushim Chaudhuri: Tabla
Brad Van Cleave: Tabla
Dennis A. Schaeffer: Keyboards
D.V.M. Curt Sturges: Piano & Synthesizer
Ed Simmons: Synthesizer
Jasper Sjok: Electric Guitar
Kush Khanna: Tabla
Teresa Solter: Flute
Winston Burton: Tenor Saxophone

Music Composed, Arranged, Produced and Directed by: Habib Khan

1. Chanting 5:18
2. Lullaby 11:01
3. Moonlight 7:14
4. One Take Jam 7:38
5. The Bottom Line 7:18
6. Sunrise 6:47
7. Cuttin' Loose 8:16
8. Om 7:01

Item # 1026

Cover Graphics: Farnaz Tasbihgoo

Performers

1 Bolo Ram Rahim: Vocal & Sitar – Habib Khan

2 Zeeshan: Sitar – Habib Khan, Tabla – Aushim Chaudhuri, Brad Van Cleave, Flute – Teresa Solter, Tenor Saxophone – Winston Burton, Keyboard – Dennis A. Schaeffer, Bass Guitar – Terry Pieper

3 Moonlight: Sitar – Habib Khan, Tabla – Kush Khanna, Chromatic Harmonica – Clifton Burton, Piano & Synthesizer – D.V.M. Curt Sturges, Acoustic Bass – Bill MacBeath

4 One Take Jam: Sitar – Habib Khan, Tabla – Kush Khanna, Bean Shaker – Aushim Chaudhuri, Electric Guitar – Jasper Sjok, Synthesizer – D.V.M. Curt Sturges, Acoustic Bass – Bill MacBeath

5 The Bottom Line: Sitar – Habib Khan, Bayan – Aushim Chaudhuri

6 Sunrise: Sitar – Habib Khan, Tabla – Aushim Chaudhuri, Brad Van Cleave, Flute – Teresa Solter, Tenor Saxophone – Winston Burton, Keyboards – Dennis A. Schaeffer, Electric Guitar – Jasper Sjok, Bass Guitar – Terry Pieper

7 Cuttin' Loose, Sitar – Habib Khan, Tabla – Aushim Chaudhuri, Tenor Saxophone – Winston Burton, Synthesizer – Ed Simmons, Electric Guitar – Jasper Sjok, Bass Guitar – Terry Pieper

8 Om: Vocal, Sitar, Tanpura, Bell – Habib Khan, Tabla – Kush Khanna

ALBUM DETAILS:

“EYES OVER INDIA” - VOL. 4: Morning DEW

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players today. He has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative inventions. This release features a sampling of the experience of attending a classical Hindustani performance of sitar and tabla. It begins with a short alaap, in which the flavor of raag – Miyan ki Todi – is presented, followed by a slow composition in vilambit tintaal (16 beats), then a composition in fast tintaal, followed by a finale (jhala). The last piece is a light semi-classical composition or dhun set to keharwa taal (8 beats).

Habib Khan: Sitar, Vocals, Tampora, Bell
Swapan Chaudhuri: Tabla on tracks 2 & 3

1. Alaap 5:31
2. Gat 33:25
3. Hearthbroken 20:54

Item # 1027

Cover Graphics: Farnaz Tasbihgoo

ALBUM DETAILS:

“EYES OVER INDIA” - VOL. 5: Vinyasa

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players today. He has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative inventions. In this album, Habib Khan uses the sitar alone to create a series of moods appropriate for practicing yoga. The first piece is dedicated to Surya Namaskar, the collection of poses know in English as the Sun Salutation. The next piece is titled “Ashtonga”, never remaining constant, reflecting the fact that, unlike the other pieces, the music has a driving rhythmic line. This is followed by “Virabhadrasna”, the warrior pose, reflecting the stately mood of Raag Vachaspati, then “Vrikshasana”, the tree pose, inspired by the light lyrical twirls of the music. The final piece is “Padmasana”, the lotus pose, resonating with the serenity of Raag Ahir Bhairav.

Habib Khan: Sitar

1. Surya Namaskar - Raag Marwa Alaap 7:16
2. Ashtanga - Raag Marwa Jod Alaap 10:34
3. Virabhadrasana - Raag Vachaspati 9:54
4. Vrikshasana - Raag Bihaag 6:27
5. Padmasana - Raag Ahir Bhairav 12:50

Item # 1028

Cover Graphics: Farnaz Tasbihgoo

Album Details:

Longing

Style/Genre: World/Indian/Fusion
Instrumentation: Sitar, Tabla, Santur, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Drums, Cello, Bass, Sax, Flute.

A World/Indian fusion CD project with tabla master Swapan Chaudhuri, saxophonist extraordinaire George Brooks, famous jazz drummer Danny Gottlieb, Persian santur master Alan Kushan, scalloped fretboard guitar master Matthew Montfort of Ancient Future, Windham Hill/Narada pianist Ira Stein, Drumer Danny Gottlib of Pat Metheny Group, Hans Christian of Rasa on cello & Bass, Saxophonist George Brooks who has accompanied Zakir Hossain and others. "Longing" shows its roots in the music of India with strong compositions by Habib Khan.

Tracks:

1. Rose 7:43
2. Midnight Dream 7:20
3. Merge 4:21
4. Longing 6:39
5. Innocent Mind 7:18
6. Butterfly 4:37
7. Sunrise 6:13
8. High Life 4:51
9. Heavenly 7:43
10. Secret Spring 5:31
11. Dodge City 3:20
Total Time 65:41

Item # CD 1011-2

Executive Producers X DOT 25

Produced by Habib Khan for X DOT 25 Music

Mix Produced by Aldoush Alpanian & David Hannibal at Victor Owen's Digisonic Studios - Berkeley, CA
Mixing Engineer David Hannibal
Recorded at: Bell Boy Studios
Mastered by Albert Benichou at CD Premastering Studio - Emeryville, CA
Photo of Habib Khan Shobha Khan
Group Photo Toni Haster Cover
Photo, Cover and Graphic Design: Jasper Johal (323) 871-0670

Ustad Habib Khan

Ustad Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the world today. He was born into a family of musicians and can trace his lineage back several generations. He began his training at the tender age of five under the strict eye of his accomplished father, Ustad Hameed Jaffar Khan.

Habib Khan has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative innovations. Habib Khan lives and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area and performs all over the world.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

At the age of five, his parents initiated his formal musical training and inspired him in the field of tabla. Swapan bases his style on the intensive training he received from his guru, Pandit Santosh Krishna Biswas of Calcutta, the eminent exponent of the Lucknow Gharana.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri is an eminent tabla player whose musical accomplishments have earned him world renown. In 1981, Ali Akbar Khan invited him to come to the U.S. from Calcutta and teach at the College.

Swapan holds a Master's degree in Music and has received honors and awards from the Government of India and other institutions. He developed his skill as an accompanist through years of accompanying Ali Akbar Khan. As a soloist and accompanist, he has also traveled throughout the world, accompanying many of the leading musicians of India. Swapan is associated with various American Universities as a visiting professor. He is also a faculty member at the California Institute of the Arts.

Friends
Alan Kushan is arguably one of the most accomplished santur players in the world. He stands out not only because of his brilliant realizations of traditional Persian compositions, but also for his innovative avant-guard soundscapes. His style, however, is not limited to the traditional approaches but it extends itself beyond any such boundaries.

Matthew Montfort is known as a world guitar innovator and an inspiring music instructor who helps students of all levels and ages learn whatever style they desire. He is on the 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists list at Digital Dream Door along with such luminaries as Michael Hedges, Leo Kottke, Chet Atkins, John Fahey, Adrian Legg, Merle Travis, John Renbourn, Tommy Emmanuel, Doc Watson, Pierre Bensusan, Toni Rice, Alex De Grassi, Stefan Grossman, Artie Traum, Joni Mitchell, and Peppino D'Agostino. He is the leader of the world music group Ancient Future, a skilled music producer, a composer, and the author of a rhythm training book used at many music schools including the Berklee College of Music. He performs on many instruments, including scalloped fretboard guitar, Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, classical guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan.

Danny Gottlieb is the original drummer for the Pat Metheny Group. He is the co-founder of Elements group with Mark Egan. He has performed or recorded for Sting, Al Di Meola, Ahmad Jamal, Eddi Goez, The Blues Brothers, Stan Getz, The Manhattan Jazz Quintet and Gil Davis. He has won the Modern Drummer poll for the best electronic jazz drummer.

George Brooks met composer Terry Riley and sitarist Krishna Bhatt in 1979. Improvising with these musicians ignited an interest in Indian music. In 1996, Zakir Hussain's label released Brooks' debut CD and he toured in concerts with Zakir Hossain worldwide. He also performed with many of India's top classical artists including Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Sultan Khan, Aashish Khan and Swapan Chaudhuri.

Hans Christian has played the cello for 30 years and developed a legacy of collaborating with many artists. His own music can be heard on several solo releases, among them Surrender and Phantoms, and on his newest project with singer Kim Waters, called Rasa.

Ira Stein signed his first recording contract and released his first album on Windham Hill Records before age of 20 in 1982. In 1991, Ira formed a new group and released two albums on Narada Records. Currently Ira has done his new album independently on his own Lost Time Records label.

Mary Ellen Donald is a nationally acclaimed author, instructor and performer in middle eastern percussion. Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar and the leader of Ancient Future. Founded in 1978, Ancient Future is the first and longest running ensemble dedicated to creating world fusion music.

Album Details:

Evening Light

Artist(s): Habib Khan - Sitar
Style/Genre: World /Indian Classical
Instrumentation: Sitar, Tabla.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri - Tabla

This is a collection of five romantic raagas performed by world renowned musicians. Here simplicity of only two instruments, Sitar and Tabla, turns into a creation of some of the most passionate and romantic, yet meditative music. As performers they are much at ease with light classical and devotional music, as they are with pure classical rendering of raagas. (Over 77 Minutes).

Tracks::

1. Dancing Fantasy 8:37
2. Moon Light 9:01
3. Starry Nights 20:55
4. Raag Kafi 3:00
5. Raag Miyan Ki Todi 31:39

Total Time 77:23

Item # CD 1010-2

Produced by: Habib Khan for X DOT 25 Music
Cover design: Deo Arellano
Photos of Habib Khan: Shobha Khan
Package design and computer graphics: Koorosh Angali
Cover Design: Deo Arellano
Recorded and Mixed & Edited at: Prime Time Productions San Jose, CA Engineered by: Dave Meniketty
Mastered at Dance Home Studios, Emeryville, CA by: Lisa Richmond

Habib Khan would like to give special thanks to his wife, Shobha Khan.

Ustad Habib Khan & Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the world today. He was born into a family of musicians and can trace his lineage back several generations to when classical music enjoyed the patronage of the nobility and royalty of India.

He began his training at the tender age of five under the strict eye of his accomplished father, Ustad Hameed Jaffar Khan. The Jaffar Khan family was from Indore and were well known for their unique style of playing the sitar, melding the effect of the human voice and the instrumental tone into a harmonious whole.

Habib Khan has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative innovations. He is as much at ease with light classical and religious music as he is with pure classical renderings of raagas. Habib Khan lives and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area and performs all over the world.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

Album Details:

Journey on the Strings

Artist(s): Habib Khan - Sitar
Style/Genre: World/Indian Fusion
Instrumentation: Sitar, Tabla, Ghatam, Sarangi, Flute & Bass, Percussion

Habib Khan - Sitar, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri - Tabla, Pandit Vikku Vinayakram - Ghatam, Pandit Ramesh Misra - Sarangi, Peter Block - Flute & Bass, Ben Mawhorter - Percussion

This album incorporates deep Indian instrumentation in a fusion environment. Recorded in a live setting, Ustad Habib Khan on sitar plays some of the most beautiful melodies, riding on the powerful rhythm patterns of two master percussion musicians of Indian decent; Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri on Tabla and Pandit Vikku Vinayakram on Gatham. Pandit Ramesh Misra on Sarangi also performs melody and accompaniments on this one of a kind performance of a sitting with Indian master musicians. Perter Block adds special flavor to this performance with his mesmerizing flute performances.

Tracks:

1. Peacock Dance 7:37
2. Serene 9:04
3. Butterfly 9:19
4. Lullaby 9:15
5. Socha Socha 7:34
6. Prayer of the Lost 7:28

Total Time 50:19

Item # CD 1013-2

Executive Producers X DOT 25 Music Produced by Habib Khan for X DOT 25 Music Recorded at Bell Boy Studios, Fremont, CA
Mixed and Mastered at Allemande Productions, Fairfax, CA
Mixing & Mastering Engineer Hans Christian
Photo of Habib Khan Shobha Khan
Cover Art Design by Farzaneh Foroughi

Habib Khan

Habib Khan is regarded as one of the best sitar players in the world today. He was born into a family of musicians and can trace his lineage back several generations. He began his training at the tender age of five under the strict eye of his accomplished father, Ustad Hameed Jaffar Khan.

Habib Khan has carved out a distinct style of his own which is a blend of his father's traditional techniques and his own imaginative innovations. Habib Khan lives and teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area and performs all over the world.

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

Pandit Vikku Vinayakram

Vikku is part of a new generation devoted to expanding ancient Indian traditions. His training came from his father, a master musician. Vikku's instrument of choice is the Ghatam, a large clay pot percussion instrument. Vikku has played in numerous experimental and avant-garde ensembles. He brought ghatam to center stage in international concert halls. Vikku has accompanied the foremost classical musicians and played in Zubin Mehta ensembles. He is best known for his tenure in Shakti. a groundbreaking acoustic Jazz and Indian fusion band with guitarist John McLaughlin, violinist L. Shankar, and Zakir Hussain on tabla. No one who saw Shakti could forget Vikku and Zakir's breathtaking percussion duets. He was co-composer in Mickey Hart's Planet Drum which won a Grammy for Best World Music Album. He divides his time touring and teaching at his school in Chennai Madras.

Pandit Ramesh Misra

Mastering over one of the most difficult unique string instruments 'Sarangi', Pandit Ramesh Misra is today acclaimed as an outstanding artist of India. Son of great Sarangi maestro, acquired training from finest musicians of Benaras Gharana, Pandit Hanuman Prasad Mishra and late Pandit Gopal Mishra and the legendary maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar. A recipient of India's most prestigious Sangeet Natak Award, Pt. Ramesh Misra has also been honored with Geetanjali, Uttam, Dishari Awards. His mesmerizing melodies produced by his Sarangi can be heard in many music productions, including his solo albums and Ravi Shankar's 'Inside the Kremlin' and the Grammy nominated album 'Legacy' produced by the legendary Ali Akbar Khan. Pandit Misra is a recording artists in Aerosmith's recent album.

Peter Block

Peter Block is an outstanding western flutist who experiences a deep musical kinship with the east. Excelling on flute, saxophone and guitar, he has produced, composed and accompanied music with a number of fine stylists and continues to do so with verve and originality. Another recording in collaboration with Ustad Habib Khan, is Fire Dance: which featured both Pat Martino, a legendary jazz musician and Zakir Hussain, the renown Indian tabla-master.

Peter Block appears courtesy of Mythos Records.

Album Details:

Jewel of Heart

Artist(s): Habib Khan - Sitar
Style/Genre: World /Indian Fusion
Instrumentation: Sitar, Tabla, Ghatam, Oud, Sax, Percussion, Acoustic Guitar, Piano.

Enjoyable relaxed world fusion gathering placed just to the East of centre. Sitar, tabla, ghatam, oud, sax, percussion, acoustic guitar and piano fitly fuse on this accomplished album. -- John McLaughlin Archives

Habib Khan - Sitar
Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri - Tabla
Pandit Vikku Vinayakram - Ghatam

Special Guests:
Ustad Necati Celik - Oud
George Brooks - Sax
Ben Mahorter - Percussion
Mathew Montfort - Guitar
Ira Stein - Piano

A follow up to "Longing", this CD project was created by Ustad Habib Khan bringing the best of Bay Area musicians together. "Jewel of Heart" shows its roots in the music of India with strong compositions by Ustad Habib Khan and contributions from these fine musicians.

Tracks:

1. Folksong 7:24
2. High Tide 9:25
3. Budding Hope 9:58
4. Jewel of Jewels 10:20
5. Meshk 6:52

Total Time 44:19

Item # CD 1016-2

Executive Producers X DOT 25 Music
Produced by Habib Khan for X DOT 25 Music
Mix Produced by Hans Christian
Mastering & Mixing Engineer Hans Christian
Recorded at: Bell Boy Studios
Photo of Habib Khan Shobha Khan
Cover Art Design by Farzaneh Foroughi

Habib Khan

Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri

Pandit Vikku Vinayakram

Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar and the leader of the band Ancient Future. Founded in 1978, Ancient Future is the first and longest running ensemble dedicated to creating world fusion music.