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Disc should be called, "Immortal SITAR of..."

ragamala78 | USA | 11/25/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is in fact a sitar CD, Pandit Nikhil Banerjee didn't take on the guitar as a side project.Banerjee wasn't too fond of making studio albums. He said that they more or less only captured a vague shadow of who the performer really is. He much preferred releasing live CDs. This studio disc (recorded in Germany) contains three ragas: Purabi Kalyan, Zila-Kafi, and Kirwani. I must say after listening to hundreds of recordings of Indian classical music, that I must agree, the live performances are almost always superior. Hindustani music isn't meant to be kept in the confines of a studio, it is meant to be heard in the moment. That being said, this is still a fine recording. Nikhil Banerjee, was after all, one of the finest sitarist of the 20th century (along with Vilayat Khan and Ravi Shankar.) Personally, Banerjee is my favorite sitarist ever. As always, Banerjee unfolds the ragas patiently (this was one of his greatest assets.) His renderings were never showy or watered down, he maintained the purity and integrity of the pieces.This rendition of Purabi Kalyan is nice, but there are better versions of him performing this one. Particularly nice is a live version (about 70 mins in length) released on Raga Records.The 2nd raga, Zila-Kafi is what makes it worth it to own this disc. This raga was composed by the legendary sarode player Ustad Allauddin Khan. This is played in a light thumri style and it suits Banerjee's personal style quite well. It is a lilting and romantic piece (and the only version of this he recorded that I know of.) The alap is too short (only 15 seconds probably) but the piece is just gorgeous. Anindo Chatterjee provides excellent accompaniment as well.Nikhil Banerjee certainly released finer discs, but this one is a pretty good place to start since it has three shorter pieces on it (Banerjee often released hour long or more CDs with only one raga on it.)For novices to Indian classical music, I highly recommend any Nikhil Banerjee CD so you can witness a different style from that of Ravi Shankar. Also try any CD by Vilayat Khan."

Adding my Voice

RagaNeophyte | Boston, MA | 01/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'd just like to add my voice to the other two who have already reviewed "Immortal Sitar". Pandit Nikhil Banerjee had a sweet, gentle virtuosity on sitar that could be utterly breath-taking, yet was never flashy or trite. All three of the ragas presented on this disc are fine examples of his art; but the second -- Zila-Kafi -- is indeed something very special, even by his extraordinary standards. This performance has a transcendent delicacy which never fails to move me deeply. Anindo Chatterjee's superb tabla provides the perfect foil for the sitar.



I have been a devotee of North Indian Classical music for many years; when friends ask me to recommend something to give them a first taste, Nikhil Banerjee's Zila-Kafi is what I invariably give them."

The Zila-Kafi makes it worth

Joshua Nash | Israel | 04/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I highly recommend any Nikhil Banerjee CD.
As for this one the 2nd raga, Zila-Kafi is what makes it worth."