 A fifth-generation descendant of the Bangash gharana (school or style) of sarod players, Hafiz Ali was known for the lyrical beauty of his music and the crystal-clear tone of his strokes.The occasional critic has, however, observed that Khan's imagination was often closer to the semi-classical thumri idiom than the austere dhrupad style prevalent in his times.He was a recipient of the civilian honour, the Padma Bhushan Award, in 1960.