Navras

14/04/2025

CELEBRATING A MAESTRO ~ USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN

It is with immense pleasure and honour that we at Navras Records commence the celebration of the 80th year of a legend, the Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, with whom we have enjoyed a very special relationship and a bond that transcends a professional relationship. On 9th October this year Ustadji turns 80 and we mark this auspicious year with a series of his performances selected from the Navras Catalogue and Archives which we will share on both the Navras YouTube channel and here on the page.

Amjad Ali Khan was born in 1945 in the city of Gwalior, which has musical associations in India comparable to those of Florence and Vienna in Europe. It is the birthplace, and resting place, of the legendary Miyan Tansen, court musician to the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century, and the seat of some of the most important traditions of North Indian (Hindustani) classical music.

Amjad Ali Khan (Khansaheb) is himself the youngest son of the famous court musician at Gwalior, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, and represents the sixth generation of a family of musicians traced back to Mohammad Hashmi Khan Bangash, a horse trader and player of the instrument known as the Rabab, who moved from Afghanistan to India. The family developed this Afghan instrument Rabab into the modern Indian Sarod. Khansaheb’s heritage is this family tradition, the Bangash gharana of sarod playing, and the Senia beenkar gharana (instrumental music tradition of Tansen and his family). He has continued the pioneering work of his father and ancestors. Although Amjad Ali Khan grew up in the dhrupad vocal tradition of the Tansen tradition, he has also introduced the more common khayal style of singing to the Sarod. His early passion for the tabla drums and interest in the Carnatic (South Indian) music give further breadth to his style.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has helped secure the sarod as one of the most popular instruments in India, established his own name as one of the leaders of Indian classical music and his fame has spread all over the world. His many prestigious visits to Britain have included concerts at the BBC Proms, recitals at the House of Commons, Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican and for the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles III. He has been an Honorary Professor of Indian Music at the University of York and has been a Wigmore Hall Associate Artist since 2021.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan has far too many distinctions and honours to fit in here but among many are the most prestigious recognition awarded to him is the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honour from the President of India, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and a Grammy in 2010 for the Best Traditional World Music Album.

Amjad Ali Khan is married to an outstanding Bharat Natyam Classical Danseuse Subhalakshmi Khan (née Barooah), and they have two sons, both outstanding Sarod players, Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, representing the seventh generation of this legendary lineage. Ayaan’s 12-year-old twin sons Zohaan and Abeer are also following in the footsteps of their ancestors in pursuit of playing the Sarod.

Navras Records and Sama Arts have a long history of a very special relationship with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan. His performances, along with both his sons, are very well represented on the Navras Catalogue and feature in the unpublished archives now with Sony Music India.

We commence this 80th year celebration of the Maestro with his rendition of the early morning melody, Raga Bhairav which he performed at London’s Kufa Gallery in January 1994, accompanied on the Tabla by Ustad Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari.

This performance was released on the Navras Catalogue and the album was featured by the BBC Gramophone Magazine among it’s Top 50 World Music Albums in 1996.

https://youtu.be/zVIeWDRuUT4

02/04/2025

USTAD RASHID KHAN

What a remarkable voice, stolen so young from us all! And such beautiful accompaniment on the tabla by Swapan Da!

29/03/2025

EID MUBARAK TO ALL OUR PATRONS!

26/03/2025

USTAD RASHID KHAN (Vocal) & USTAD SHAHID PARVEZ (Sitar)

Jugalbandi (Duet) in Raga Desh

Navras Records collaborated with Vrindavan Gurukul (Mumbai) of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia during early to mid 1990's in publishing recordings of live performances of All-Night Jugalbandi (Duet) open air concerts featuring a wide variety of duet formations. The first such event was held in December 1998 and the second one in January 1995 - both at Mumbai's Shivaji Park. Combinations of two unusual instrumental duets were capped by a combination of vocal and instrumental duets as well as duets of North and South Indian traditions.

Here we present an excerpt of a duet between the vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan (Sahaswan Rampur Gharana) and Sitarist Ustad Shahid Parvez (Imdad Khani Gharana), both from the Hindustani (North Indian) tradition. The two maestros were accompanied on the Tabla by Ustad Shafaat Ahmad Khan in a rendition of Raga Desh, an evening melody also associated with the rainy season.

The entire presentation featuring Ragas Bageshri and Desh was released on the Navras Catalogue, now with Sony Music India.

Navras Records collaborated with Vrindavan Gurukul (Mumbai) of Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia during early to mid 1990's in publishing recordings of live perfor...

25/03/2025

USTAD AMJAD ALI KHAN ~ Raga Bilaskhani Todi (Alap, Jor)

A Sama Arts / Navras morning concert at London's Kufa Gallery in January 1994 comprised of presentation by the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan of Ragas Bhairav, Bilaskhani Todi and ending with Brindabani Sarang. Ustadji was accompanied by Sukhwinder Singh Namdhari on Tabla.

The entire concert was released on two compact discs. The album featuring Raga Bhairav was listed by the BBC Gramophone Magazine among the top 50 World Music Albums of the year, and the only one from Indian classical music genre.

Here we feature an excerpt of Alap and Jor in Raga Bilaskhani Todi.

The Navras Catalogue now resides with Sony Music India.

A Sama Arts / Navras morning concert at London's Kufa Gallery in January 1994 comprised of presentation by the Sarod Maestro Amjad Ali Khan of Ragas Bhairav,...

14/03/2025

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Holi!

Amaan Ali Bangash, Ayaan Ali Bangash

13/02/2025

PANDIT PRABHAKAR KAREKAR ~ A Tribute by Pandit Satish Vyas

Completely devastated to know that our family member and my musical elder brother Pandit Prabhakar Karekar left for heavenly abode yesterday night. Our association goes back for more than 50 years since he started learning from my father Pandit C. R. Vyas in early 70’s.

I have been witness to his journey from a young musician to an extremely accomplished and a popular artiste. He achieved the leading position as a classical musician in India through his single minded dedication, devotion and relentless efforts. Prabhakar was always immersed in his Riyaz and music 24x7. His signature Natya Geet Priye Paha from a musical drama Saubhadra was so popular that he was never allowed to finish his concert without him singing this Natya pad which was already sung by Legendary Musician cm Theatre actor Late Chhota Gandharva but it is very rare that a song already made popular by a senior musician became the most favourite of public across all the age groups sung by young Prabhakar Karekar.

I have been very fortunate to listen to him live in umpteen number of concerts. He was a sure shot performer. I remember on 3/4 occasions of my father’s Guru Poornima my father had said that what do I sing now after Prabhakar’s powerful performance. Such was his talent that his Guru said this after his performance.

Indeed it is a very huge loss for the Music World. My deepest condolences to his wife Pratibha and rest of the family members as well as his students and innumerable followers of his music. May his soul rest in eternal peace. ☮️

13/02/2025

PANDIT PRBAHAKR KAREKAR (1944 ~ 2025)

Pandit Prabhakar Karekar-ji, the well-known Hindustani classical vocalist from the Gwalior Gharana passed away this morning at his home in Mumbai after a short illness.

The news of his passing comes to us with a deep sense of loss of a wonderful musician featured on the Navras Catalogue. His Navras album, titled "Samarpan" comprised of rendition of Ragas Bairagi, Madhuvanti, Malians, Sohni and Bhairavi.

Pandit Prabhakar Karekar was a native of Goa, although he left home at the age of fourteen to pursue his musical ambition. He began his training under Pandit Suresh Haldankar, then studied under the renowned Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, completing his training under another well-known performer and pedagogue, Pandit C. R. Vyas. He was a top-grade All India Radio artist, with commercial recordings to his credit as well as numerous broadcasts, and had performed widely both in India and abroad.

Pandit Prabhakar Karekar was primarily known as a khyal singer, with a particular concentration on the lyrical content of his bandishes: he also performed thumris, dadras, bhajans and Marathi natyasangeet. He had also involved himself in fusion music projects, working with the likes of the legendary jazz saxophonist Ornette Coleman.

May his soul find eternal peace!

10/02/2025

USTAD SHUJAAT KHAN

Ustad Shujaat Khan, son of the great Ustad Vilayat Khan and standard-bearer of one of the great lineages in Indian instrumental music, is one of the current generation's leading sitarists. His family tradition, named Imdadkhani gharana after his great-grandfather, has produced many top instrumentalists, including his grandfather Ustad Inayat Khan, his father, his uncle Ustad Imrat Khan, cousin Ustad Nishat Khan and Ustad Irshad Khan and many others.

This family is credited with many innovations in sitar playing, including a distinctive approach to the reproduction of vocal (gayaki) techniques, as well as the introduction of the high-pitched chikari strings and the technique of jhala which employs these strings to play fast rhythmic patterns. Ustad Shujaat Khan, like his many illustrious relatives, displays these strengths and more, and a style of playing which is as notable for its freedom and emotionalism as it is for its speed and brilliance.

Here we share a brilliant exposition by Shujaat Khan of the Jhala in the romantic raga Jhinjhoti - an excerpt from his performance for Navras Records and Sama Arts at London's St. John's, Smith Square on 30th August 1995, in association with the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata. The performance where he was accompanied by Pandit Anand Gopal Bandopadhyay on Tabla was released under the Navras Catalogue title Amoré in January 2003. This Catalogue and unpublished archival content now reside with Sony Music India.

Ustad Shujaat Hussain Khan, son of the great Ustad Vilayat Khan and standard-bearer of one of the great lineages in Indian instrumental music, is one of the ...

13/01/2025

PANDIT SHIVKUMAR SHARMA (13 JAN 1938 ~ MAY 2022)

A BIRTH ANNIVERSARY TRIBUTE TO A LEGEND & NAVRAS NAVRATNA

RAGA JHINJHOTI ~ Jhala in Dhrupad Ang

Today we mark the 87th birth anniversary of the Santoor legend Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Shivji to his fans) who we very sadly lost just under three years ago.

Life is often led by destiny and uncharted and unplanned paths. For me the meeting with this great music legend happened in a most unexpected manner through a chance meeting with his ayurvedic doctor friend who was visiting London and shared deep interest in classical music of India. This led to him impressing upon Shivji that when next in London he should meet with me. That started a personal relationship which later got cemented through the formation of Navras Records greatly encouraged by Shivkumar Sharma, who for many years had been presented by Sama Arts in London. Its archives held many of his earlier recordings. He was very keen that these live recordings of his and other great legends be released. The rest is history as they say….

Needless to say, my personal association and that of Navras Records and Sama Arts with Shivji has been one of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences in one’s life. He is fondly remembered and deeply missed. He was a maestro par exemplar!

Remembering him on his birth anniversary today we share with you one more of his nuggets, this time with his favourite collaborationist, the Bansuri legend Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.

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Following their first duet performance since 1960's by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri) at Mumbai's Nehru Centre in Dec 1995 (concert released on Navras Records Catalogue under the title "The Valley Recalls"), the duo was presented for their first ever duet in London in Oct 1997. The Navras Records / Sama Arts concert was presented at London's Royal Festival Hall. The duet part of the evening was performed in two parts; a Dhrupad based rendition in Raga Jhinjhoti where the two legends were accompanied by Pandit Bhawani Shankar on the Pakhawaj. The second part was in Hindustani Khayal style in Raga Kirwani when the three maestros were joined by Ustad Shafaat Ahmad Khan on the Tabla. The entire performance was released by Navras Records as a double CD album under the title "Rasdhara" (NRCD 0114/5).

Here we share with you the Jhala in Dhrupad Ang, the final part of Raga Jhinjhoti with Pandits Shivkumar Sharma and Hariprasad Chaurasia accompanied by Pandit Bhawani Shankar. This title along with the entire published Navras Catalogue and unpublished archives now reside with Sony Music India.

Following their first duet performance since 1960's by Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (Santoor) and Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia (Bansuri) at Mumbai's Nehru Centre i...