The Maestros Series- Pandit Jasraj (2011)

About The CD: This MP3 CD from Times Music’s Maestros Series offers more than three hours of distinguished Hindustani classical music, presenting eight major ragas in sequence. Each raga is first revealed in its traditional aesthetic character before being inwardly transformed through the voice of Pandit Jasraj. Raag Bihag belongs to the late evening and is known for its serene romantic lyricism and gentle repose; Panditji approaches it with luminous restraint, letting its elegance unfold through long-breathed meends and thoughtfully spaced improvisations that seem to invite stillness. Raag Jaijaiwanti, marked by a rare blend of tenderness and muted pathos, balances between wistfulness and devotional calm; in Jasraj’s hands, this emotional ambiguity becomes philosophical, each shaded oscillation rendered with a delicacy that turns the raga inward rather than outward. The courtly and monumental Raag Darbari Kanada carries an innate gravitas and introspective depth; here, he sinks deliberately into the lower register, allowing the slow, dignified exposition to acquire an almost meditative density, never resorting to rhetoric but intensifying the raga’s gravity through restraint. Raag Ramdasi Malhar belongs to the monsoon family and is suffused with devotional colour; Panditji’s singing reflects precisely this bhakti-laden quality, the melodic lines caressed rather than projected, so that the music assumes the character of prayer. Raag Basant, associated with spring and renewal, possesses a poised luminosity rather than overt brightness; Jasraj articulates this refinement through supple, gently blossoming melodic architecture, letting the sense of seasonal awakening arise subtly rather than ecstatically. Raag Khamaj Bahar combines the romantic warmth of Khamaj with the joyful freshness of Bahar; he sustains its grace with impeccable tonal poise, allowing sweetness without sentimentality and preserving a constant undercurrent of spiritual dignity. Raag Shankara is traditionally associated with austerity, strength, and meditative intensity; his interpretation honours this lineage through commanding yet inwardly focused taan-kari, where virtuosity is never detached from contemplation. Finally, Raag Bhairavi, the classical closing raga, gathers together tenderness, compassion and farewell; Jasraj renders it with such restrained benevolence that the recital seems to resolve not only musically but emotionally and metaphysically. Throughout the programme, the singer’s tone remains mellifluous yet disciplined, and the accompaniment tactfully unobtrusive, allowing each raga to serve as a vehicle for spiritual introspection — turning the recording into a document of musical sādhanā rather than merely a compilation of performances. Tracklist: 1. Channel Logo 0:00 2. Raag Bihag 0:08 3. Raag Jaijaiwanti 53:05 4. Raag Darbari Kanada 1:18:34 5. Raag Ramdasi Malhar 1:54:49 6. Raag Basant 2:34:25 7. Raag Khamaj Bahar 2:42:20 8. Raag Shankara 2:55:52 9. Raag Bhairavi 3:06:32 Note: The audio has been taken from the MP3 CD of this album. Its access number is B007ZWXA3U. The album jukebox cover is made by Avinash Navik and the restoration of this CD is done by Master Vighnesh Shirdhonkar. Disclaimer: These recordings are shared purely for scholarly research and entertainment purposes. No copyright infringement is intended. These are not meant for any commercial purpose whatsoever and are shared strictly under the fair use clause and per YouTube's uploading policies and guidelines, where copyrighted content is allowed to be shared by the rights holders. This channel is not monetised, nor ever intends to be. If you still want this or any other recording removed from this channel for copyright reasons, despite the above, please do not move a Copyright Strike. Please let me know with a comment, and I shall immediately look into it. Your feedback matters the most!