| Ustad Ghulam Abbas Khan was born in Lahore,
into a family steeped in the Patiala and Punjab traditions of
vocal music and tabla. Ghulam Abbas received his foundational
training in tabla and vocal music from his father Ustad Ghulam
Hasan Khan with whom he trained throughout his life until the
latter’s death in early 2004. Having provided tabla accompaniment
to the likes of Ustad Nazakat Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan
since the age of 13 Ghulam Abbas also became a shagird of Ustad
Allah Rakha of Bombay with the blessings of his father in a
ceremony in London in 1977. Ghulam Abbas’ tabla is the
embodiment of the traditional tabla of Punjab as espoused by
the late Khalifa of the Punjab gharana, Ustad Miyan Qadir Baksh.
Indeed Ghulam Abbas is a torchbearer of the gharana today. He
has inherited the “maidan ka tabla” style of the great masters
of old including Ustad Inayati Khan, Baba Malang Khan, Miyan
Faqir Baksh, Ustad Meeran Baksh, Miyan Nabi Baksh Kalriye, and
many other luminaries. His sound is marked by a truly sparkling
presence and the use of the full hand in exploiting the variety
of sounds available on the tabla. Being an exponent of the Punjab
baaj his sound is marked by the unmistakable sound of the pakhawaj
resonating throughout his bol selection. His minute understanding
of matra and taal - typical of the Punjab gharana - is shown
through his accompaniment and his solo performances. Indeed,
his playing of rare and difficult taals like Ikwai, Punjabi
Dhammar, Punjabi Kafi, Sooltal, Ada Chautal, Jhoomra, and Laxmi
Taal provide examples of the extensive training he has received
from his mentors over the years and the maturity of his tabla
playing.
Ustad Ghulam Abbas has performed in virtually every part
of the globe. He has participated in prestigious festivals
and dazzled audiences at the most respected venues. He has
also broadcast from PTV, Pakistan Radio, the BBC, ITV, and
TV Rome. He has recorded numerous albums with Ustad Salamat
Ali Khan and others predominantly for EMI, Lok Virsa, Nimbus
Records, and Water Lily Acoustics - among others. Ghulam Abbas
is an extremely versatile tabla player being equally at home
accompanying classical vocal and instrumental performances
as well as light classical including thumri and ghazal. A
list of some of the luminaries he has performed with is given
here. Ghulam Abbas has received critical acclaim for his
accompaniment and solo performances by fellow musicians and
music connoisseurs around the world.
Ustad Ghulam Abbas has held workshops, seminars, and teaching
assignments in cultural institutions and universities throughout
the world. He is also permanently affiliated with the Allah
Rakha School of Music in Mumbai. Ustad Ghulam Abbas has been
honored by many public and private organizations both in Pakistan
and abroad. He has been awarded the prestigious Ameer Khusro
Award in 1987 as well as an honorary citizenship of the city
of Baltimore in 1985.
In addition to tabla, Ustad Ghulam Abbas also received training
in vocal music from his father and from his maternal grand father, Baba Ghulam Ali,
who taught him special traditional classical vocal compositions.
Ghulam Abbas is an expert singer being familiar with special
gharanedar techniques and compositions of the Patiala gharana.
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