Release Group
The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan
Recent Releases
View allTracklist (Primary Release)
About The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan
Ustad Vilayat Khan released The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan in 1968. The album features two extended performances in the Hindustani classical tradition. EMI India issued the recording as a vinyl LP.
Vilayat Khan performs Raga Darbari Kanada across both tracks. The first side presents the alap and jhala sections. The alap unfolds the raga’s melodic framework without rhythmic accompaniment. The jhala follows, accelerating the tempo with rapid plucking patterns on the sitar. The second side contains the gat in teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. Khan introduces composed phrases and improvises within the structure of the raga and tala.
The album showcases Vilayat Khan’s distinctive gayaki ang style, which emulates vocal techniques on the sitar. His use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) reflects the influence of khayal singing. The recording captures his technical precision and expressive depth in a live concert setting.
No additional musicians are credited on the original release. The exact venue and concert date remain unconfirmed in available documentation.