Raag Shyam Kedar : Alap & Jod

Raag Shyam Kedar: Alap & Jod is a 32-minute instrumental composition performed by sitarist Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. The track opens The Genius Of Pandit Nikhil Banerjee – Vol. 1, a compilation album released on CD by Chhanda Dhara in 1994.

The recording features Banerjee’s interpretation of Raag Shyam Kedar, a variant of the Kedar raga family in Hindustani classical music. The performance follows the traditional alap-jod structure, beginning with an unmetered alap that explores the raga’s melodic contours before transitioning into the rhythmic jod section. The track showcases Banerjee’s command of the Etawah-Baj sitar style, characterized by deep tonal resonance and intricate taan patterns.

The album serves as the first volume in a series dedicated to Banerjee’s recordings, though the total number of volumes in the series remains undocumented. Chhanda Dhara, the producing label, specialized in archival and studio releases of Indian classical music during the 1990s. No additional session musicians or accompanying artists are credited for this track.

The original recording date and location of the performance are not specified in available sources. The 1994 release compiles material from Banerjee’s career, with some tracks potentially drawn from earlier live or studio sessions. The liner notes, if included in the physical CD, are not widely referenced in public documentation.