Rating: _****
Amjad Ali Khan, Sony Navras, Rs 399

On this double-CD, Amjad Ali Khan “interprets” the milestone compositions of vocal legends Abdul Karim Khan, Faiyaz Khan, Kesarbai Kerkar, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Amir Khan. Each track begins with Khan singing (a temptation he ought to have resisted) the first few lines of the composition and then moving on to the sarod, on which he effortlessly reproduces the unforgettable bandishes.

He seems to have a particular predilection for Abdul Karim Khan’s music as he has chosen to play as many as four compositions popularised by the latter, of which “Piya Milan Ki Aas” (raga Jogia) stands out. Consistent with the purport of the album, the improvisations are largely in the gayaki ang. It is a trifle disappointing that gamaks have hardly been used but the electric ekhara tans and the various bol patterns more than make up for this.

One word in criticism, though. In his introductory speech, Amjad Ali Khan says that he was unable to fathom in entirety (presumably owing to the poor recording quality of those times), the text of some of the compositions. While singing those parts he uses syllables (da, de, re etc) in place of the missing words. Surely it is not too much to expect a musician to go out of his way (since there are many contemporary vocalists who sing these compositions without resorting to filling in the blanks) to find the texts before he goes on to record and release. Sandeep Das accompanies on the tabla with a degree of proficiency usually attributed to him.  Jiten Trivedi