Ustad Bashir dead at 80

Renowned tabla maestro Ustad Bashir Khan passed away on Thursday after a short battle with illness at age 80, sources close to the musician's family have revealed.

As a towering figure from the Punjab Gharana, Ustad Bashir, who accrued a Pride of Performance award for his contribution to music, left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Pakistan as both a soloist, as well as an percussionist in others musicians' performances.

Throughout an illustrious career that also involved having served as part of the teaching faculty at the music department for the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Ustad Bashir's classical legacy includes performances alongside national treasures Noor Jahan, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and Abida Parveen.

Sharif Awan, classical music producer and Director of Tehzeeb Foundation of Pakistan, spoke to The Express Tribune about the gaping hole that Ustad Bashir's passing has left on music in Pakistan.

"This is very painful news," began Awan, who was also a personal friend of the late musician's for the past 35 years. "Bashir Khan Sahab was one of the world's most stylish tabla maestros and he was highly respected for his accompaniment aesthetics. Whether it was in India or Pakistan, whoever he worked with, people would cherish his style."

As a mark of how the respect that the tabla maestro garnered during his lifetime, Awan noted that revered Indian playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and classical vocalist Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty would personally cite Ustad Bashir's example as a cornerstone of Pakistani talent. However, despite his wealth of skill on the tabla and influence in the musical community in the region, Ustad Bashir remained a humble figure throughout his career.

"He was a very good man, very modest," said Awan in fond remembrance. "You would never hear his name in any controversy. He would keep to himself and he was loved for his artistry."