Nishat Khan

His credentials are rock-solid: a direct lineage to the sixteenth century Mogul Emperor Akbar, a family that (legend has it) invented the sitar and the tabla, and a father (Imrat), uncle (Vilayat) and grandfather (Imdad) who are three of the most influential and important Indian musicians. It comes as no surprise that Ustad Nishat Khan has developed into an astounding sitar virtuoso, with a delicate mastery of raga intricacies. The tone of the Khan family is mellower and more austere than that of India's other major gharana (school), that of Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar and Allaudin Khan. Nishat follows tradition in his playing, but he also allows himself to experience the music of other cultures, teaming up with diverse international musicians including Ray Charles, Philip Glass, John McLaughlin and the early vocal music ensemble Gilles Binchois.