Late Night Ragas

Late Night Ragas is a compilation album of Indian classical music released in 1999. The album features performances by violinist N. Rajam, shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan, sarod player Amjad Ali Khan, and santoor artist Shivkumar Sharma. RPG Enterprises published the recording on compact disc.

The album contains four tracks that showcase raga-based compositions in traditional Hindustani classical styles. The opening piece presents Raga Darbari in Ek Taal and Teen Taal, followed by a rendition of Kajri and Chaiti, semi-classical folk forms often performed in the monsoon season. The third track features Raga Shahana with a gat in Jhap Taal, Ektaal, and Tritaal, demonstrating intricate rhythmic patterns. The closing composition, Ragamala, serves as a garland of raga excerpts, though specific raga selections remain undocumented in available sources.

The artists contribute distinct instrumental interpretations. N. Rajam performs on the violin, Bismillah Khan on the shehnai, Amjad Ali Khan on the sarod, and Shivkumar Sharma on the santoor. Accompanying artists, if any, are not listed in the primary release details. The album emphasizes late-night ragas traditionally associated with the final prahar (time segment) of the evening in the Indian classical tradition.

The 1999 release date aligns with RPG’s series of classical music compilations from the late 1990s, though specific recording locations or sessions remain unverified. The track durations and exact sequencing beyond the sample titles are not fully cataloged in public records. The album serves as a representative collection of North Indian classical and light-classical forms by leading instrumentalists of the era.