Raga Chandrakaush: alap, jor, jhalla

Chandrakaush Khamaj 1967 is a studio recording of North Indian classical music featuring sitarist Nikhil Banerjee accompanied by tabla player Mahapurush Misra. The album captures a live-style performance of Raga Chandrakaush in the Khamaj thaat, rendered in the traditional dhrupad-ang gayaki style characteristic of Banerjee’s early and middle-period work.

The release consists of a single track divided into three sections: alap, jor, and jhalla. The composition spans 20 minutes and 24 seconds, emphasizing the raga’s expansive development through slow, meditative exploration in the alap, rhythmic elaboration in the jor, and a climactic conclusion in the jhalla. The recording date is cited as 1967, though the album appeared commercially in 1988 under the label Raga Records.

The format of the release is CD. The liner notes or original session details do not specify additional tracks, alternate takes, or supplementary material. The collaboration between Banerjee and Misra on this recording reflects their long-standing association in live performances during the 1960s and 1970s. The raga’s structure adheres to the Chandrakaush framework, a rare and complex melody traditionally performed in the late evening or early night.

No further information is available regarding the recording location, production personnel, or mastering engineers. The album’s title references both the raga and the parent thaat, distinguishing it from Banerjee’s other commercial releases of the period. The 1988 release date suggests a posthumous compilation or archival issue, as Banerjee died in 1986.