About The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan
The Supreme Genius of Ustad Vilayat Khan is an official studio album by Indian sitar virtuoso Vilayat Khan. His Master’s Voice released the album in 1968. The format is a 12-inch vinyl record.
Vilayat Khan performs two extended compositions on the album. The first track presents Raga Darbari Kanada in two movements: Alap and Jhala. The second track continues the same raga with a Gat set in Teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The album contains no additional tracks beyond these two.
Vilayat Khan recorded the album in a traditional Hindustani classical style. The performances emphasize the alap, jor, and jhala sections characteristic of instrumental dhrupad-influenced renditions. The Gat in Teentaal demonstrates the interplay between sitar and tabla, though the tabla artist remains uncredited on the release.
The album reflects Vilayat Khan’s distinctive gayaki ang, a vocal-influenced approach to sitar playing. His use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques defines the interpretive style of the raga. The recording captures the acoustic environment of a live concert setting, with minimal post-production editing.
His Master’s Voice distributed the album in India and internationally through EMI’s global network. The original release does not specify the recording location or exact date beyond the year 1968. No alternate versions or reissues under different titles are documented for this specific tracklist.