Raga Yaman Kalyan Vilambit Gat

Nishat Khan with Zakir Hussain is a 1985 studio album featuring sitarist Nishat Khan in collaboration with tabla virtuoso Zakir Hussain. The record was released by His Master’s Voice on a 12\" vinyl format. The album showcases North Indian classical music with an emphasis on raga elaboration and rhythmic interplay.

The track Raga Yaman Kalyan Vilambit Gat appears as the first composition on Side B (B1). Khan performs the raga in the vilambit (slow) tempo, adhering to the traditional gat (instrumental composition) structure of the Yaman Kalyan raga. The piece demonstrates Khan’s command of the Etawah gharana sitar style, characterized by intricate taans (melodic phrases) and nuanced meend (glissando) techniques. Hussain’s tabla accompaniment provides a dynamic rhythmic foundation, incorporating complex thekas (cyclic patterns) and spontaneous improvisations.

The album’s production reflects the acoustic recording standards of the era, capturing the resonant qualities of the sitar and tabla in a studio setting. Specific session details, including additional contributing artists or recording locations, remain undocumented in widely available sources. The release contributed to the broader dissemination of Hindustani classical music during the mid-1980s, aligning with His Master’s Voice’s catalog of Indian classical and fusion recordings.

No commercial reissues or digital remasters of this album have been officially confirmed. The original vinyl pressing remains the primary format for collectors and archivists. The collaboration between Khan and Hussain on this record preceded their subsequent joint performances and recordings in later decades.