G. S. Sachdev (Gurbachan Singh Sachdev) (1935-2018) passed away - In his memory his second LP released in India in 1976

This morning I received the sad news that G.S. Sachdev has passed away from my dear blogger friend Richard at: Flat, Black and Classical: Indian Classical Music on Vinyl and Cassette. May he rest in peace.

Gurbachan Singh Sachdev was a well-known Indian performer of the Bansuri (Bamboo Flute). He was initially a protege of Vijay Raghav Rao, with whom he studied for twelve years intensively. He then continued his studies with Ravi Shankar and later with Ali Akbar Khan. He holds a degree in music from Gandharav Mandal University in Bombay. A big part of his life he spend in the US teaching, giving concerts and recording. I saw him twice in Amsterdam, I guess in the late 1990s or early 2000s. He seemed to be a very gentle and humble man. I only had a short talk with him. He had a very devote public in Holland. I remember that I was surprised that he was so well-known in Holland. Probably from previous concert tours.

See:

http://apnaorg.com/articles/baldeep-1/
https://www.hinduismtoday.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=672
https://gssachdev.wordpress.com/bio/

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2 Ragas - LP published 1969 in Sweden

Here the promised LP with another side by Damodarlal Kabra and Manju Bhatt. See the one before here. Recorded in Jodhpur, India, in 1968 by Deben Bhattacharya. About the flutist on side 2 I don't know anything.

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Salamat Hussain - The Enchanting Notes of Flute - Asghar Records PIKA-37 - LP published in New York in 1980

Here as promised to my blogger colleague Richard the only LP I have from this "mysterous" Pakistani label based in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. I bought this LP in the early 1980s in Southall near London in a Pakistani record shop. They had at that moment quite a number of LPs by this label, but unfortunately I bought only this one as there were so many of the great EMI Pakistan LPs which I couldn't resist. This Salamat Hussain LP I bought basicly out of nostalgic reasons as my very first Raga LP, the legendary "Pakistani Soul Session", which I posted here as one of my very first posts in june 2011, contained two tracks by him.

Richard had posted on his wonderful blog "Flat, Black and Classical: Indian Classical Music on Vinyl and Cassette" two LPs from this label, which also goes under the name Oscar Records:

Kabir Khan - Mellow Moment on Sitar [Oscar Records PIKA-23] (1978)

and:

Idd Mohd. Ajmeri - Tabla Solos [Oscar PIKA-28] LP pressed in U.S. (1978)

Side 1:

1. Raag Chandar Kauns (Chandrakauns)

2. Raag Gujrri Torri (Gujri Todi)

Side 2:

1. Raag Aimen (Yaman)

2. Thummarri Tez (Thumri Desh, I suppose)

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The artist has a website: http://www.salamathussain.com.pk/articl/biography.htm

Our blogger colleague Hans posted in 2011 a cassette by Salamat Hussain and added a track by one of his teachers, Debu Bhattacharya. In this post Hans also posted a number of other recordings by very little known Bansuri players from Pakistan.
See: http://lalogiqueinterne.blogspot.de/2011/01/roseaux.html

La Flute de N. Ramani - LP published 1978 in France

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About the artist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._Ramani

Bansuri player Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao passes away on November 30, 2011 - In his memory his first LP ECLP 2357 (1968)

Vijay Raghavrao - Flute

D.K. Thakar - Flute accompaniment

Manikrao Popatkar - Tabla

Side 1:

Raga Abhogi (20:24)

Side 2:

1. Raga Amrut-Varshini (10:42)

2. Raga Mishra-Piloo (8:13)

Download

See about him:

http://www.feenotes.com/db/artists/r/raovijayraghav.php

http://www.themusicmagazine.com/vijayraghav.html

Pannalal Ghosh - Flute Recital - LP EALP 1367 (1971) - The Gramophone Company of India

Published by permission of All India Radio

Side 1:

1. Raga Piloo: Gat (13:56)

2. Raga Bhairavi: Thumree (9:01)

Side 2:

Raga Darbari: Gat (22:41) 

Download



Thanks to Zwan for sharing this LP.

Pakistani Soul Session - LP published in UK in 1967

This most wonderful LP was my first introduction to Raga Music in 1968 and took me completely. It was for at least two decades my absolute favourite LP and is till today one of my favourites. From this LP also comes my love for the Sarangi as it has one of the greatest Sarangi players ever. Also noteworthy is the great Tabla player Allah Ditta Khan (1910-1968). Other wonderful musicians: Salamat Hussain Khan, the leading Flute player of Pakistan in these years and the legendary Ustad Khamisso Khan, playing the double-flute Alghoza, a folk instrument of Sindh.

Side 1

1. Raag Bagesri - Ustad Nathu Khan (Sarangi) & Ustad Allah Ditta Khan (Tabla)

2. Bhatiali - Salamat Hussain Khan (Flute), Abdur Rahman (Flute), Muntaz Ali Khan (Dotara), Yasin Khan (Ektara), Idd Mohammad (Tabla)

3. Taal Trital - Ustad Allah Ditta Khan (Tabla)

4. Raag Pilu - Salamat Hussain Khan (Flute), Abdul Ghafoor (Mandolin), Idd Mohammad (Tabla)

Side 2

1. Koihari - Ustad Khamisso Khan (Alghoza), Abdul Ghafoor (Mandolin)

2. Raag Lalit - Ustad Nathu Khan (Sarangi) & Ustad Allah Ditta Khan (Tabla)

3. Pahari - Ustad Khamisso Khan (Alghoza), Abdul Ghafoor (Mandolin)

4. Raag Malkosh - Ustad Nathu Khan (Sarangi) & Ustad Allah Ditta Khan (Tabla)

See: http://www.johnpeelcentre.com/john-peel-s-hidden-gems-no-15-pakistani-soul-session/

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Ustad Nathu Khan

(1920 - 1971)

    The illustrious Nathu Khan is perhaps the greatest sarangi player of his time, and his recordings are still gaining popularity and recognition by music connoisseurs of today. He was born in Amritsar in nineteen twenty. His father Baba Ballay was a Tabla player. He got his initial training of sarangi playing from his uncle Ferozdin and other elders of the family. Later he became a formal disciple of the great Ahmadi Khan of Delhi. He also learned intricacies of classical music from Maula Bakh of the Talwandi Gharana. After the partition he became a staff artist with Radio Pakistan, Karachi.

    From a very young age he showed great promise, during his very first public performance in a sarangi festival held in Amritsar, his rendition of raga Shudh Sarang was so complete and skillful that all other sarangi players refused to play after him for fear of comparison. He was the master of rhythm, and his Tayyari and Laykari were unmatched. Apart from playing complex rhythmic patterns his Taans were also lightening fast which are still unmatched. He was among the pioneers who introduced solo sarangi playing in Pakistan, known undoubtedly as the best solo sarangi player Pakistan has produced. His rendition of ragas showed his deep knowledge of our classical music as well as his complete command over this difficult instrument. He was also a great accompanist and played with almost all the great vocalists of his time, including Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Salamat Ali Khan, Nazakat Ali Khan, Ashiq Ali Khan, Roshan Ara Begum and Umeed Ali Khan. Ustad Salamat Ali Khan referred to Nathu Khan as his "camera", admitting his genius as an accompanist, second to none, Nathu Khan was his most favored sarangi player.

    Nathu Khan traveled the world over and achieved international fame. He was among the very few sarangi players who were also good at composing and arranging music. He composed many songs for films and radio, during his association with Radio Pakistan, Karachi. As a composer he used the name N.K Naseer. He died in nineteen seventy one after a short illness. His son Mujahid Hussain is also a distinguished composer.
From: http://zohaibhassanamritsari.com/Zohaib_Hassan/Amritsari_Historical_Figures.html

Ustad Allah Ditta