The Genius of Vilayat Khan

Vilayat Khan released The Genius of Vilayat Khan in 1966. The album features two extended performances in the Hindustani classical tradition. EMI India issued the recording on vinyl.

Vilayat Khan performs Raga Ahir Bhairav as the first track. He presents the alap, jor, and jhala sections in a slow to medium tempo, followed by a gat in Teentaal (16 beats). The performance showcases his signature gayaki ang style, which emphasizes vocal-like phrasing on the sitar.

The second track is Raga Khamaj Thumri. Vilayat Khan renders the thumri in a light classical format, accompanied by tabla and tanpura. The piece follows the traditional structure of a slow vilambit section and a faster drut conclusion. His use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) highlights the emotive qualities of the raga.

The album captures Vilayat Khan’s technical precision and improvisational depth. The recording remains a reference for students and connoisseurs of Hindustani classical music. The original release details, including the exact label catalog number, are not specified in available sources.