Raga Malkauns: Alaap - Jod

Raga Malkauns: Alaap – Jod is a live recording of a Dhrupad-style alaap and jod performance in Raga Malkauns by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The track spans 20 minutes and 13 seconds and serves as the opening piece on the album India’s Maestro of Melody – Live Concert Vol. 1.

The album was released in 1998 under the Chhanda Dhara label. The format of the release is digital media, though physical editions may have existed prior to digital distribution. The recording captures a live concert setting, showcasing Banerjee’s interpretation of the raga through the slow, meditative alaap followed by the more rhythmic jod section.

Raga Malkauns is a pentatonic raga associated with the late evening or night and is characterized by its omission of the shuddha rishabh (natural second) and shuddha dhaivat (natural sixth) swaras. Banerjee’s rendition emphasizes the raga’s introspective and somber mood, a hallmark of his stylistic approach to Hindustani classical music.

The album India’s Maestro of Melody – Live Concert Vol. 1 compiles live performances by Banerjee, though the exact date and venue of this recording remain undocumented in available sources. The tracklist and additional details about the concert series are not fully preserved in public records.

Nikhil Banerjee (1931–1986) was a prominent exponent of the Maihar gharana, trained under Allauddin Khan and later Ali Akbar Khan. His recordings, including this posthumous release, continue to be referenced for their technical precision and emotional depth in raga elaboration.