Ustad Vilayat Khan - Sitar (1)

[SriFeb7]

My most favorite sitar maestro. I had an unique opportunity when he invited me to a breakfast that became a four hours filled with delightful anecdotes about his affectionate relationship with Balasaraswati and his visit to the Mysore palace accompanying his grandfather on his summer sojourns as as the guest of then Maharaja, Nalvodi Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar. He spoke of Mercedes-Benz cars as lovingly as he stroked the sitar strings! I tresure that memory for ever,

[umumtaz]

There would be great sitar players in this world...they would be greats of their own times...but this maestro is undoubtedly the greatest sitar player of all times.

[mykylc]

the master

[operadood]

Starting at 1:22 is amazing...he keeps tricking you into thinking Sa is coming. SO playful. LOVE IT!

[ASCENDED5]

As a young boy of 5 years old I used sit down in the same room where he played sitar to listen to him. i always enjoyed the grand finale. at that time he used to look like a ghost as if some one else was playing the sitar.

[KDKAPOOR]

Khansahib was not only the greatest sitar player, but was the most spritual human being. I was fortunate to briefly know him. What a wonderful musician and a real saint. His Gharana will live for ever with Shujat and Hidayat and a dozen other great musicians and now teachers.

For me he is always alive in my heart and my head bows to his name and presence.

[dams0001]

Arguably the best sitarist of his generation...the feature par excellence of his gharana (roughly, school) was the emphasis on melody (sur), which became known (a little misleadingly) as "gayaki ang" (vocal style). The emphasis of the other great gharana, that of Ravi Shankar, was more on "layakaari/tantrakaari" (rhythmic perfection). No abuse please - not claiming either school was grossly deficient in the others' respective special strengths.

[classicalperformer]

The greatest ever...I love you Vilayatji...You will always remain with us through your music...

[LucasCarl]

..my favorite sitar player ever! unique..

[frenk1973]

Great music -- and I must say a great expression on the Ustad's face.