Utsav Lal with Nitin Mitta – Visangati: Indian Classical Music on the Piano (Utsav Lal , 2021)
In 2021, Utsav Lal released Visangati, his seventh album featuring Indian classical music performed on the piano. The term “Visangati,” derived from Hindi and Sanskrit, translates to “anomaly” in English, signifying a deviation from the norm. This album marks Lal’s continued exploration of unconventional musical paths, combing traditional Indian classical music with his unique approach to piano performance.
The first three tracks focus on Raga Lalit. Lal begins with a solo piano rendition in the traditional Alap, Jod, and Jhala forms, followed by two tracks featuring renowned tabla player Nitin Mitta, known for his work with Vijay Iyer’s “Tirtha” trio. Together, Lal and Mitta create a rich acoustic dialog, presenting Raga Lalit through compositions set to Vilambit Teental (16-beat cycle) and Drut Ektaal (12-beat cycle). Lal’s interpretation is influenced by his training with Dhrupad maestro Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and violinist Sharat Srivastava, emphasizing the subtleties of raga ornamentation, resonance, and development.
The album also includes a tonal nuanced rendition of the romantic Raga Bihag composition “Lat uljhi suljha ja re balam,” inspired by Khayal and Thumri styles. The final two tracks feature original versions of traditional songs “Neer Bharan Kaise Jaon” and “Yaad Piya Ki Aayi.” These tracks highlight Lal’s diverse musical influences, from the refined touch of Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington to the genre-bending piano of Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou and the expansive improvisations of Chris Abrahams (The Necks) and Ran Blake.
Utsav Lal, often referred to as the ‘Raga Pianist,’ is recognized as one of his generation’s most talented musicians. He has successfully adapted the piano, traditionally considered unsuitable for Indian classical music, to perform ragas with creative genius, technical clarity, and rhythmic virtuosity. Lal has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Southbank Centre in London, and The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Since his debut album Piano Moods of Indian Ragas in 2008 under the Times Music label, Lal has released six more albums, including the historic The Fluid Piano Album in 2016, featuring the world’s first Fluid Piano.
Utsav Lal says about his latest work: “Visangati as a word reflects an integral poly-semantic and ambiguous quality. It mostly translates as an “anomaly” but sometimes also hinting at absurdity or illogicality. When attempting to play Indian Classical Music on the piano, it is impossible to not acknowledge the contradictions at play in this endeavor. My goal is to embrace and revel in these discrepancies while trying to get as close as possible to eliminating them.
This record represents a current snapshot, 17 years into the everlasting goal of bringing this vast and vibrant art form to this instrument.”
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.