ASHRAF SHARIF

Ashraf Sharif Khan Poonchwala represents the new generation of master sitar players from South Asia.

Born in Lahore, Pakistan in 1969, he comes from a family of long classical music traditions.

He trained with his father, the illustrious Ustad Mohammad Sharif Khan Poonchwala and gave his first sitar concert at the age of 10.

Ashraf Sharif Khan belongs to the Poonch Gharana, which was established by his grandfather Ustad Abdul Rahim Baksh Khan at the court of the rulers of Poonch in Kashmire.

What distinguishes the Poonch Gharana from others is the ang or style of playing. Most sitar players play in the sarod ang, while Ashraf like his father, blends the sitar in the veena ang, which emphasizes the meend or tie and gamak - a taan of dhrupad ang. This lends a tonal expression unique to the Poonch Gharana and Ashraf Sharif.

Ashraf Sharif has performed extensively in Pakistan, United States, Europe, Japan and South Asia.

Liner notes: Ishrat Ansari