About The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee - vol 4
The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee – Volume 4 is a studio album by Indian classical sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The release forms part of a multi-volume series dedicated to his instrumental performances in the Hindustani classical tradition.
Nikhil Banerjee recorded the album for the Kolkata-based label Chhanda Dhara. The label issued the work on compact disc in 1996 as an official commercial release. The recording session date remains undocumented in available sources, but the release event occurred in 1996.
The album features three tracks. Banerjee opens with an untitled Announcement, followed by two raga performances: Raag Kalshree and Raag Abhogi. The compositions showcase his interpretation of the respective ragas, adhering to the alap-jor-jhala structure characteristic of the Maihar gharana. Accompaniment details for tabla or tanpura are not specified in the release metadata.
Banerjee’s rendition of Raag Kalshree emphasizes the raga’s shuddha dhaivat and komal nishad swaras, while Raag Abhogi explores the audav-jati framework with five notes in ascent and descent. The album omits liner notes or session credits, leaving performance durations and recording locations unverified.
Chhanda Dhara marketed the series as a retrospective of Banerjee’s artistry, though the selection criteria for Volume 4’s tracks are not publicly detailed. The release followed Banerjee’s death in 1986 by a decade, compiled from archival or previously unreleased material. No reissues or remastered editions have been confirmed under this volume title.