Abhogi: Jod

Abhogi: Jod is a 14-minute and 8-second dhrupad performance recorded live by Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar on the rudra veena. The track appears as the second piece on the album Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani, which captures a concert held in Seattle on 9 March 1986.

The album was released posthumously on 14 May 2018 by the label Ideologic Organ in digital media format. The recording showcases Dagar’s interpretation of Raga Abhogi, a raga traditionally associated with the Khandarbani style of dhrupad. The performance emphasizes the jod section, a developmental phase in dhrupad where the artist elaborates the raga through intricate melodic patterns and rhythmic phrasing.

Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar (1929–1990) was a prominent exponent of the Dagarvani tradition, known for his mastery of the rudra veena, a fretless string instrument central to the dhrupad genre. His rendition in this recording reflects the meditative and expansive qualities characteristic of the Dagar bani, with extended alaap passages leading into the composed jod section.

The album Ragas Abhogi & Vardhani includes two tracks, with the second track dedicated to Raga Vardhani. The release preserves a historical performance from Dagar’s later career, offering a documented example of his approach to raga elaboration in a live setting. No additional session musicians or accompanying artists are credited in the available documentation for this specific track.