Ustad Shafaat Ahmed Khan (20 May 1954 – 24 July 2005) New Delhi, India, was one of the leading tabla maestros in the field of Hindustani classical music.
Shafaat Ahmed Khan was famous for his mastery over clear 'bols' and melodious tone of the tabla, accompaniment (sangat) and systematic improvisation.
[1][2][3] He performed concerts all around the world with classical artistes like Ravi Shankar, Nikhil Banerjee, Shivkumar Sharma, Amjad Ali Khan, Bhimsen Joshi, Jasraj, Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Kishori Amonkar, Birju Maharaj, besides performances as solo artist.
Shafaat Ahmed Khan also played various taal vadya kacheris and jugalbandis with carnatic artists like Vikku Vinayakram, Lalgudi Jayaraman, Balamurali Krishna, Vellore Ramabhadran, Sivamani, Shankar Mahadevan and others, internationally.
[3][1] Shafaat Ahmed Khan was a recipient of the fourth highest Indian civilian award, "Padma Shri" in 2003.