Amjad Ali Khan - Moksha 2005

Moksha is something of an odd affair as far as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's work is concerned. ThoughKhan -- the reigning master of the sarod -- is usually more of a traditionalist, this album has eight short tracks rather than one or two long ones. Here, he's pumping out short, fresh compositions based on a set of lesser-known ragas and/or folk music from Bengal. Despite the lack of the long contemplative alaps that are so great, the compositions are still worth hearing. What listeners do get to hear on the album is a set of sparser mood pieces that can still be expressive in their brevity, and a nice showcase of Khan's athleticism on the sarod. The sound moves from light, positive aesthetics through more reflective moods and back. Overall, it's a nice album for newcomers, but a little overly light for those already attuned to Indian classical music. AMG.

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