Ranchi, Jan. 20: Almost a month after the successful series of Kathak recitals by Malabika Mitra, the Jharkhand chapter of SpicMacay (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Among Youth) is set to organise rudra veena concerts featuring Ustad Asad Ali Khan. The programme will start from January 22.

A SpicMacay official told The Telegraph that these concerts would be organised in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad and Bokaro. The series, a part of the nation-wide “fest series” will begin from January 22 beginning with Khan’s arrival in the state after performing at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur.

“In Jamshedpur, the venue is the Karim City College where he will perform on the morning of January 22. From there he will visit the other chapters of Jharkhand — Dhanbad, Ranchi and Bokaro — before leaving for New Delhi. The series will continue till January 26,” the official said.

He said, the concerts in Ranchi will be held at BIT-Mesra and DAV Kapildeo. Another venue is yet to be decided and will be finalised tomorrow. In Dhanbad, the concert will be held at the Indian School of Mines (ISM), he added.

One of the most distinguished artistes of Indian classical music, Ustad Asad Ali Khan belongs to the Jaipur gharana. He plays dhrupad in khandarbani, one of the four ancient styles of Indian music. Devotional mood and divine love are its characteristic features. All other styles — for example the khayal, tarana or the thumri — are its progenies.

A recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award, Khan has won several honours like the Veena Visharad of the Benaras Hindu University and the Tansen award. He is a top grade artiste of All India Radio and participates regularly in Radio Sangeet Sammelans, national programmes and music conferences all over India. Khan has also performed at concerts in Afghanistan, Australia, Holland, Italy, New Zealand, UK, USA and many other countries.