MEET THE TEAM

Since the age of 5, Ustad Shahbaz Hussain has devoted his life to the tabla. In his illustrious journey as a leading practitioner of this musical tradition, he has trained with some of the greatest adepts of South Asian classical music. As he embarked on a full-time professional career, Hussain has put in relentless and rigorous practice of nearly 8 hours daily for more than twenty years, clocking more than 75000 practice hours. His perseverance and artistic acumen have brought him immense renown and lasting veneration of connoisseurs and colleagues. He has played with numerous leading maestros of the Hindustani classical tradition, the Carnatic tradition, classical dance forms, as also semi-classical forms of music. Further, he has played more than 2500 solo concerts, a performance-type reserved for only the most accomplished tabla masters.

Hussain’s music is marked by a unique mix of imaginative adherence to the richest styles of traditional music practices and his own fecund creative vocation. He has been a trusted accompanist for leading instrumentalists and vocalists over the world, a testament to his art and consistency. Through Aymen Arts, Hussain has shown his commitment to give back to the community of his home, Rochdale, where he has taught countless children, young adults and adults, the intricacies of tabla at highly subsidised costs for more than ten years.

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Kayam has followed in the footsteps of his guru and father, Ustad Shahbaz Hussain from very early years. As a proven prodigy, Kayam has absorbed a very large repertoire and technical skillsets with great speed and depth. He has performed with many of his peer musicians as well as toured with his illustrious father, performing at some of the leading venues in the United Kingdom. As the leading disciple of Shahbaz Hussain, Kayam has honed his innate qualities as a teacher and teaches the nuances of the tabla to the the beginner and intermediate level students at Aymen Arts.

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Raayna Hussain is a dynamic young woman who manages the production of the various concerts and mehfils organised by Aymen Arts. She is the creative head, constantly working behind the scenes to ensure the high quality of Aymen Arts’ productions. She is a Psychology major, who has a keen interest in preserving and propagating the rich traditions of UK’s south asian cultural heritage.

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