Raga Bhairavi

Nishat Khan with Zakir Hussain is a collaborative studio album featuring sitarist Nishat Khan and tabla player Zakir Hussain. The album released in 1985 under the label His Master’s Voice in a 12\" vinyl LP format. The recording showcases North Indian classical music with an emphasis on improvisational raga performances.

The track Raga Bhairavi appears as the third composition on the B-side (designated B3). This piece follows the traditional structure of alaap, jor, and jhala, culminating in a rhythmic gat section accompanied by Hussain’s tabla. The raga belongs to the Bhairavi thaat and is typically performed in the early morning or as a concluding piece in classical concerts. The album does not specify the exact duration of the track or additional session musicians, if any.

Nishat Khan composed and performed the sitar parts, while Zakir Hussain provided tabla accompaniment. The production credits and recording location remain undocumented in available sources. The album exemplifies the jugalbandi (duet) tradition, though it primarily features sequential solo passages rather than simultaneous improvisation. His Master’s Voice distributed the release in India, with no confirmed international editions or reissues on digital platforms.

The vinyl’s original pressing included liner notes, but the content and contributing authors are not publicly archived. No singles or alternate versions of Raga Bhairavi from this album have been verified. The collaboration marked a period of cross-generational partnership, with Khan representing the Etah gharana of sitar and Hussain the Punjab gharana of tabla.