Kishori Amonkar

Kishori Amonkar is a studio album by Hindustani classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar, released on January 1, 1967. The album captures Amonkar’s early interpretations of khayal and thumri within the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana tradition. The primary format of the release remains unspecified in available documentation, though vinyl LP and later cassette reissues are attested in discographies of Indian classical recordings from the period.

The album features three tracks. Kishori Amonkar opens with Baje Jhananana in Raga Jounpuri, set to Bilampat Teental, a composition emphasizing intricate taan patterns and gamak-laden phrasing. The second track, Chhum Chhana Nana Bichhuva, returns to Raga Jounpuri in a drut tempo, rendered in Teen Taal. The third track, Dhan Dhan Mangal Gavo, shifts to Raga Pat Bihag in Teental, showcasing Amonkar’s control over slow, expansive alap passages. The album concludes with Koyaliya Na Bolo Dar Dar, a Thumri in Raga Bhairvi, demonstrating her approach to semi-classical forms with lyrical embellishments.

No original label information is confirmed for the 1967 release. Later pressings by HMV (His Master’s Voice) and other Indian classical imprints circulated the recordings, though exact reissue dates and catalog numbers vary. The album’s tracklist and performance style align with Amonkar’s broader repertoire from the 1960s, a period during which she consolidated her reputation as a leading exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gayaki. Accompaniment details for the session—including tabla or harmonium artists—are not documented in the primary context.

The release contributes to the discographic record of Kishori Amonkar’s formative years, predating her wider international recognition in the 1970s and 1980s. The selection of ragas and compositions reflects her training under her mother, Mogubai Kurdikar, while hinting at the individualistic phrasing that would define her later work.