Raga Kalavati

Raga Kalavati is a khayal performance recorded by Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and released as the fourth track on the 1995 album Raga Madkauns, Raga Suha Kanada, Raga Verag Todi, Raga Kalavati. The album appeared under the Nimbus Records label in CD format. The track spans 14 minutes and 13 seconds, showcasing Khan’s interpretation of the Kalavati raga, a melodic framework associated with the Kafi thaat in Hindustani classical tradition.

The recording captures Khan’s vocal technique, characterized by intricate taans and bol-banao alaps. The album groups four distinct raga performances, with Raga Kalavati positioned after Raga Verag Todi in the sequence. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though khayal performances of this era typically featured tabla and tanpura support. The 1995 release marked one of Khan’s later commercial recordings before his death in 2001.

The album title reflects its content, listing the four ragas in order of presentation. Nimbus Records, a UK-based label, specialized in classical and traditional music releases during this period. No alternate editions or reissues of this specific recording are confirmed in public records. The track exemplifies the Patiala gharana style, to which Khan belonged, emphasizing robust voice modulation and layered rhythmic improvisation.

Limited metadata exists regarding the recording session’s location, accompanying artists, or production personnel. The album’s liner notes, if included, are not widely archived. The 14:13 duration aligns with conventional khayal performance lengths, allowing for alap, jor, and jhala sections followed by a composed bandish. Khan’s rendition of Raga Kalavati remains a reference for students of the Patiala tradition, though scholarly analyses of this specific performance are scarce.