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Featuring in concerts of Hindustani music regularly, the harmonium, in the hands of India’s numerous skilled players, produces exquisite music, but it is seldom given pride of place or treated as a solo instrument.

In this album, the harmonium wizard Ustad Bhure Khan does not give cause for complaint to followers of this instrument.

He is accompanied by his disciple Dinkar Sharma on the harmonium and on the keyboard by Aman Nath. On the tabla is Athar Hussain. Of all the ragas played, Chandrakauns, Bhairavi and Pahari, the last is perhaps the sweetest in its characteristic lilting melody.

However, all the renditions display the artiste’s skills as a player of this keyboard instrument that was once considered unfit for producing Hindustani music. The album’s name, Tajurba, meaning experience, is certainly apt.

A good addition to the shelf of the connoisseur as well as the student of Indian music.

The first song, sung by Bhupinder Singh, “Ruth Firi Van Kambeya”, by Sheikh Farid, is moving. Jagjit Kaur’s singing in the following “Dard Vichore Da Haal”, a poem by Shah Hussain, is not striking in itself, but the strength of the rendition lies in the poetry.

The emotion-filled voice of Puran Shahkoti in Bulleh Shah’s “Uth Gaye Gawandon Yaar” makes it an uplifting piece.

While orchestration does not drown out hte importance of the lyrics, the lilting folksy gait of the songs in the album is pleasing. Surinder Kaur’s singing of “Aa Vas Mandre Kol”, a Kafi of Ghulam Farid, is sung with the typical feel of Kafi raga, making it another traditional gem.

Another song that makes good listening with its relaxed feel is Hans Raj Hans’ “Charh Channa Tun Kar Roshanayie” of Sultan Bahu.

The lyrics by Arshad Kamil touch you and the range in the voice of Shreya and Chauhan make you press the rewind button. Shreya has effortlessly brought in the rustic feel to her voice.

With a peppy beat, the song is going to stay on the music charts for time to come. Mohit has come a long way from his Silk Route days.

His is the only song which stays with you. Rest is mostly average stuff. “Mauja Hi Mauja” by Mika and “Nagada Nagada” by Sonu Nigam are dance numbers. Another interesting number is “Aaoge Jab Tum” by Ustad Rashid Khan.

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