Shujaat Khan presents six ragas with six different moods, three played in the khayal style, three in the thumri style. In Shujaat's words, '...when I am playing the composition, which was originally composed for presenting... more » poetry, I also sing. Just as I often do at concerts. I want the listener to enjoy the beauty of the poetry along with the melody.'« less
Shujaat Khan presents six ragas with six different moods, three played in the khayal style, three in the thumri style. In Shujaat's words, '...when I am playing the composition, which was originally composed for presenting poetry, I also sing. Just as I often do at concerts. I want the listener to enjoy the beauty of the poetry along with the melody.'
CD Reviews
A perfect intro to Hindustani music
05/28/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This 6 track 70+ minute album is the perfect introduction to the vast world of Hindustani music. Hopefully, it will dispel the notion that Ravi Shankar is the only (and supreme) sitarist. Not to take away from Pt. Shankar, but Pt. Nikhil Banerjee and Ustad Vilayat Khan (Shujaat's father) are amazing sitarists, and this disc shows Shujaat's firm planting in the Imdadkhan gharana of gayaki style sitar playing. Better yet for the beginner, these 6 ragas are all around 10-15 minutes in length, which caters to those unfamiliar with the genre since the exploration of a single raga can easily go for more than an hour. In addition to the short length, Shujaat's vocals are also a nice addition. While he doesn't have a voice comparable to Amir Khan or Bhimsen Joshi, it serves well enough to help enlighten listeners to the structure of the piece. Highlights include Charukeshi and the Khamaj based piece. Shujaat's lilting style is a far cry from the heaviness of the Maihar gharana players (with Nikhil Banerjee as the exception). I think this CD with its digestable length is the perfect intro to this music, but that there is enought substance in Shujaat's playing to impress even the most hardcore afficianado."
One cannot help but wonder...
Into | everywhereandnowhere | 03/24/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"...why the reviewer(s) who keeps giving Shujaat Khan's albums one star reviews, because he obviously doesn't care for his style, keeps buying/listening to them. Here's a thought: maybe he hasn't actually even bought or heard them, but is just trying to taint readers' opinions with his own personal/ethnic prejudices."
My favorite instrumental Shujaat
PBSF | San Francisco, CA USA | 04/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Shujaat Khan has put out a lovely series of vocal-instrumental CD's in addition to his celestial exchanges with Kayhan Kalhor as part of the Ghazal trio. But of all of the instrumental albums released under his own name, this one must be my favorite.
The melodies are splendid and evocative, the pacing is perfect, and the pieces are short and numerous enough to allow for a broader sampling of flavors than the normal raga format would allow, yet each piece is also given enough time to unfold and conclude itself according to its own natural dynamics.
A gorgeous musical bouquet, this one."
Beautiful Ragas
P. West | Brewster, New York United States | 05/04/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I completely disagree with many of the poor reviews of this album. To my ears, this is one of the most intimate and delicate Hindustani performances I have ever heard. Khan's playing is beautiful, evocative and poetic. There's nothing in world music quite like a raga well played. I highly recommend this disk."
Track Listings (6) - Disc #1