Aaj Jaane Ki Zid

Time and again, many great singers have attempted, but have failed to match up to the legendary Farida Khanum in her unforgettable rendition of "Aaj Jaane Ki Zid"! Last week, thanks to my sister-in-law, I heard this purely instrumental attempt (a fusion sitar-tabla-violin trio) that instantly felt so right! Unfortunately, I don't even know the name of the artists - but what a fine, nuanced performance! This appears to be a limited-audience mehfil in our neighbour country, with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan gracing the occassion!

I usually connect better with a vocal performance any day. Verses and vocal expressions are important, in that they convey rich context and feelings, thereby lending more soul to music.

In this exquisite performance, however, the lead artist has attained the outsized goal of almost blending the singer and the musician into one! - effortlessly moving back-and-forth between extreme restraint in playing the vocal sections, and intense adventure over the musical sections which he owns exclusively! You almost get to experience a soft, nuanced and very measured singer seamlessly morph into a bold and unrestrained musician in masterly command of his every stroke, nonetheless! Check it out and judge for yourself! :-)