Monday, July 12, 2010

Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Jasraj

Let's start with something a bit different this time. There is an instrument in Indian classical music called the Shehnai. It's a wooden flute/horn kind of instrument and it makes a sharp distinct sound. It's often used in traditional Indian marriages, In the wrong hands, it can easily be mistaken for some sort of vuvuzela, but in the hands of Ustad Bismillah Khan it can take on quite a charming character. He has been playing the shehnai for eight decades, and he is almost single-handedly responsible for giving the shehnai the status of a classical instrument, so you know that this guy knows exactly what he's doing. I especially like the way he bends the notes, very elegant, very controlled. This is going to be absolutely entertaining, believe me, Raag Kedar by Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Our next track is by Pandit Jasraj, titled Raag Puriya from the album Raagdari. We have played some of his tracks before on the show, he's an amazing vocalist, and it's a delight to listen to his voice.

1. Ustad Bismillah Khan - Raag Kedar (29:50)
2. Pandit Jasraj - Raag Puriya (29:49)

Avinash Sastry
Gharana Music
WREK Atlanta, 91.1 FM
Mondays, 8-9 p.m.
www.wrek.org
(+1) 404-894-2468
Email: gharanamusicatlanta@gmail.com

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