About Eb'adat - Ragini Yamani
Eb'adat – Ragini Yamani is a 1995 studio album featuring a jugalbandi (duet) between sitarist Ustad Vilayat Khan and shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. The recording captures a collaboration between two of India’s most celebrated classical musicians, showcasing their interpretations of Ragini Yamani, a raga associated with the late-night hours in Hindustani classical tradition.
The album was released in 1995 under the label Navras Records in CD format. It comprises four tracks, structured to highlight the raga’s development through alap (unmetered improvisation) and gat (composed melodic theme). The tracklist includes Introduction, Ragini Yamani: Alap, a second Introduction, and Ragini Yamani: Gat. The performances emphasize the contrast and harmony between the sitar’s intricate taans (melodic runs) and the shehnai’s resonant, vocal-like phrasing.
Ustad Vilayat Khan, a proponent of the Imdadkhani gharana, employs the sitar’s gayaki ang (vocal-style playing) to explore the raga’s emotional depth. Ustad Bismillah Khan, renowned for elevating the shehnai from folk to classical status, complements the sitar with his signature breath control and microtonal inflections. The album’s title, Eb'adat (Urdu for ‘worship’), reflects the devotional quality ascribed to their rendition.
The recording session’s exact location and production personnel remain undocumented in available sources. The album stands as one of the few formal collaborations between the two ustads, both recipients of India’s highest civilian honors—the Bharat Ratna. Navras Records marketed the release as part of its classical music catalog, though specific sales figures or reissue details are not publicly verified.