About The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee - vol 2
The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee – Volume 2 is a solo instrumental album by Indian classical sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The label Chhanda Dhara released the recording in 1995 on CD as part of a series dedicated to Banerjee’s performances. The album captures a live or studio rendition of Raag Shree, a classical raga associated with late evening performances in the Hindustani tradition.
Banerjee performs the sitar as the sole instrumentalist on the recording. The tracklist contains one extended composition, Raag Shree, structured in the traditional alaap-jor-jhala followed by a gat in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) ektaal. The performance showcases Banerjee’s interpretation of the raga, emphasizing its shuddha dhaivat (natural sixth) and komal gandhar (flattened third) swaras. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though tanpura drone and tabla support are standard in such recordings.
The album forms the second volume in a multi-part anthology compiled posthumously. Banerjee, a disciple of the Senia-Maihar gharana under Ustad Allauddin Khan, developed a style marked by technical precision and emotional depth. Chhanda Dhara produced the release as part of efforts to preserve and distribute his recordings following his death in 1986. The 1995 event date aligns with the label’s catalog expansion during that period.
Critical reception and commercial performance of the volume are not widely recorded. The album serves primarily as an archival document of Banerjee’s artistry, targeting audiences of Hindustani classical music. No alternate editions or reissues under different labels are verified. The original CD release includes liner notes, though their authorship and content specifics are not publicly detailed.