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Review

Sense World is a new addition to the growing number of labels dedicated to Indian classical music. Started in 2002 Sense World is based in UK, with a studio in Gujarat. Many of the albums are live concert recordings of the Saptak Music Festival held every year in Ahmedabad, Gujarat every year in winter.

This CD by Pandit Jasraj presents the live recording of a concert held as part of Saptak Music Festival, 2003. Pandit Jasraj is one of the most prominent, if controversial, Hindustani vocalists of our time and the doyen of Mewati Gharana. Tabla accompaniment is by Nandan Mehta, a disciple of Benaras Gharana legend Pt Kishen Maharaj. Hemant Bhatt accompanies on the Pakhavaj on one track. Is Pakhavaj making a comeback, this time as an accompaniment to Khayal. Mehmood Dhaulpuri accompanies on the harmonium.

The cd mainly features Darbari Kanada, a popular and majestic raaga attributed to Mian Tansen. It is a sampoorna raaga with the scale S R g m P d n , where ga, da, na are komal and ma is shudha. Pandit Jasraj starts with a characteristic invocation which acts as his introductory alaap. Without a doubt his voice is still at its inviting and pristine best, which by itself makes him worth listening. The next track starts with the khayal Hari Virahi Ja Ko Maan, where Pandit Jasraj methodically develops the raaga. For some reason the khayal has been divided into two tracks and the fourth track continues with Pt Jasraj singing sargams and trying various vocal acrobatics, especially in the lower register. Some of that sounds theatrical, but thankfully only limited time is spent on such experimentations.

In the fourth track Jasraj takes up a Lakshana Geeta set to Jhaptaal Asi Darbari Gunijana Gaave, starting in the medium tempo. For the drit portion, pakhavaj joins in. Usage of Pakhavaj in Khayal seems to be catching on ... we will have to wait to see whether it is the new trend or just a fad. Personally I'm not a fan of the boomy pakhavaj, which makes the khayal sound like a bhajan. Pt Jasraj sounds a little tired and out of step in the medium tempo, but picks up form in the drit portion. In the last track Pandit Jasraj takes up a Bhinnashadja, a rare evening pentatonic raaga. Here we have Jasraj hitting really high notes and singing energitacally, especially considering he is seventy three. Again both tabla and pakhavaj accompaniments can be heard in this track.

In the end, the CD by the young maestro is a worthwhile addition if you want a well recording recent recording of Pandit Jasraj. Overall 4.0 stars for the music and 4.0 stars for the recording. Recommended.

CD Information

Tracks

Nu.	Title	Taal	Time	Rating
1	Darbari Kanada - Alaap - Invocation		7:00
2	Darbari Kanada - Hari Virahi Ja Ko Maan	Vilambit EkTaal	17:56
3	Darbari Kanada - Hari Virahi Ja Ko Maan (contd.)	Vilambit EkTaal	23:56
4	Darbari Kanada - Asi Darbari Gunijan Gaave	JhapTaal	14:01
5	Bhinnashadja - Aja Hun Na Aaye Sudhara Piya Shyam	Dhruth TeenTaal	11:10

Liner Notes

Good liner notes with profile of the artist and music. The cover art is good as is the case with most Sense World Music productions. Track listing at the back, though, is difficult to read.