MAKING MUSIC

Friday Review Delhi

Sitting pretty - Meena Banerjee,

Two concerts in baithak style brought cheer to Kolkata's listeners.

Original Agra flavour

Since its inception in 1962, Saptasur, founded by Vidushi Dipali Nag, is known for its devoted adherence to Kolkata's tradition of baithak with all its intimate charm.

The organisation offers a highly venerated platform for classical musicians from India and abroad.

Jainul Abedin was invited to sing at its monthly session in April. Groomed as a child scholar at the Sangeet Research Academy by none other than Ustad Latafat Hussain Khan, Abedin imbibed the uniqueness of the Agra Rangila school replete with finer nuances.

It is highly commendable that when most of his seniors and contemporaries have deviated from their original style in favour of a synthetic gayaki, he remains loyal to his gharana. Blessed with a rich, melodious voice, he cast an instant spell with the nom-tom alap and jod in Yaman Kalyan. The piety of the raga peaked whenever the serene, transient Shuddha Ma emerged after the Teevra Ma. Ustad Faiyaz Khan's favourite "Nagar Nanda", set to slow Teen tala, was decked up with some heavy gamak taans while short, crisp taans flashed through the lilting khayal in fast Ek tala. The cultivated old world charm, further enhanced by the tabla of Pandit Lakshmi Narayan Mishra and Rajendra Banerjee's supportive harmonium, was too refreshing for words. Jhinjhoti, his next choice, was steeped in romance. Delighting dialogues with the tabla during bol-baant, sath-sangat and tihais set the mood, but fast taans lacked the desired sheen. He signed off with raga Kamod.