" I do not want to talk about people who do not know music," Ustad Sultan Khan opens audaciously. " Classical music is something that has to be impressed on a child's mind just like physics and language. It has to be a part of education just as any other subject, to help the child grow up into a healthy adult. This is what I call sanskar from our sanskriti. The present genre of artists does not practice, and hence do not last. Music has become more 'visual' than ever. I am not disheartened by it. People who know music always admired classical. It is pure, next to god"

Houstonians would probably never forget the magical evening of 24th August, the evening with Ustad Sultan Khan. An unusual performer performing in an unusual setting for the few elite connoisseur of classical music left in town, Ustad Sultan Khan gave an everlasting memory of melody to all the listeners. Performing in the mehfil style setting in Sweetwater Country Club, Ustad Sultan Khan was accompanied on tabla with his dexterous brother, Hanif Khan. The warm and informal gathering started with small chitchats and glasses of wine with Ustad gathering up his mood on the stage. No later than when Ustad thought the time was ripe for Raag Yaman Kalyan, he let his fingers glide on his Saragni and left the mehfil stunned for a moment. The magic had begun. No wonder his instrument is referred to as Singing Sarangi. The virtuoso maestro has already stunned the world since he has opened his vocal chords. The evening was no exception either. One after another, sometimes with his Sarangi, sometimes with comments and sometimes with his vocal productions, Ustad miraculously kept everyone's attention tied to the stage. From the legendary Raag Darbari to the quixotic Misra Pilu to his evergreen Piya Basanti Re, Ustad let everyone be satisfied to their hearts content with the rhythm and melody of the voice and the instruments. As expected, no one wanted to let him go off the stage even after three and half-hours of show. With numerous rounds of applause, listeners paid their salutations throughout the program. The program was brought to the town by Society for promotion of International Music.

Later Ustad made his comments on the present trend and his personal affiliation with Indian traditional music.

"A gharana is formed when three generations practice the same style of music and the father becomes the first teacher", Ustad comments on the significance of Gharana. Ustad Sultan Khan belongs to Indore gharana and is one of the selected few musicians alive today who can sing three gharans on one stage. "In the past, communication was not very easy. With different schools of music all across the country, different styles evolved within each of them, each adding a slightly different color to the spectrum of Hindustani music. I am the eighth generation in my family tree that has carried the tradition of Sarangi and my son is going to be the ninth one. It is not very advisable to stick to the aboriginal form of music, though it is the mother of all flavors existing today. Indian classical and western Jazz can be combined very harmoniously and has a supernatural effect if done with fineess. In my latest upcoming album, I have tried to bring late Nuserat Fateh Ali Khan back to life on my Sarangi. I have tried to imitate his shrill and sharp tone on my Sarangi and balance it with the serenity of my own style of singing. It is a unique project and a gift for music lovers."

"Most of the bandish in Hindustani music is women (often gopi) trying to woo a man (Krishna). There is only one song where the man woos a woman". With this short introduction Ustad sings his world acclaimed bandish "Gori tore naina bin kajal kajrare". " Indian classical music got its flavor after Krishna. He started raas with gopis and all the songs and dances with emotions originate from then," explains Ustad.

"I have attended fame at a very late stage. Today even Lata Mangeshkar tells me that I should have started twenty-five years ago. It is difficult to explain that it takes a whole lifetime of practice to achieve excellence in classical music. I have practiced for 14-15 hours every day for ten years. I still have lot to learn. Music is in my blood. The Sarangi that I play belongs to my father. I am proud of my lineage and confidant about my knowledge. It is the blessings of my seniors and my riyaz that has brought me today on stage before the world." Frank and straightforward in his opinion, Ustad still surprises people with his humility and down to earth nature.