This bandish in Raag Darbari has several versions with different lyrics which express devotion, both Hindu and Muslim. Whatever the lyrics, the mood is Darbari; somber, majestic, profound, and noble. Living musical traditions transform and evolve, absorbing new elements along the way. My guru, Dr. N. Rajam, was already a virtuoso in her native Carnatic tradition by the time she traveled from Chennai to Benares to learn N. Indian music from her guru, Omkarnath Thakur when she

Goodbye to September recording madness. I’ve been glued to this spot for many many hours this month, with back-to-back recordings for several upcoming releases; Boots Riley’s “I’m a Virgo” on Amazon with music by Tuneyards, Vikramaditya Motwane’s “Jubilee” on Amazon with music by Alokananda Dasgupta, also Vikramaditya Motwanes’s fascinating docuseries called “Indi(r)a’s Emergency” with music by Anjo John. I even squeezed in a voice-over recording for an ad film somewhere in