About Jotin Bhattacharya
Jotin Bhattacharya (1974) is a studio album of North Indian classical instrumental music performed by sitarist Jotin Bhattacharya. His Master’s Voice released the recording in 1974 as a 12\" vinyl LP under catalog number context unspecified. The album features two extended raga performances that showcase Bhattacharya’s interpretation of the gayaki ang (vocal-style) sitar tradition associated with the Etawah gharana.
The album opens with a 22-minute exploration of Raga Marwa, structured in three sections: a slow alap introduction, a rhythmic jod development, and a concluding jhala with ghat (percussive strokes) in madhyalaya (medium tempo) teental (16-beat cycle). The second track presents Raga Shuddha Kanada (labeled as Sampurna Kanada on the release), performed in the Masitkhani gat style. The composition progresses through madhyalaya and drut (fast) sections, both set to teental.
Bhattacharya accompanies himself on sitar, though the release credits for tabla or tanpura support remain unverified in available documentation. The recording captures the artist’s adherence to the vilambit-to-drut (slow-to-fast) developmental arc typical of Dhrupad-influenced instrumental recitals. The liner notes or original packaging details, if included, are not archived in public sources.
As a 1974 release, the album reflects the period’s production standards for Indian classical vinyl, with His Master’s Voice serving as the primary distributor in the Indian subcontinent. The total runtime spans approximately 45 minutes across two tracks. No reissues, digital remasters, or alternate formats have been confirmed in subsequent decades. The original pressing status and survival rate of physical copies remain undocumented.