Times of Maharajas

Led by tabla player Rahis Bharti, the Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan are one of the busiest ensembles touring Rajasthani music around the world. This is partly because they base themselves in France for much of the year so are more available to festivals in Europe and the US. Bharti, and his three brothers in the band, come from a long lineage of Rajasthani court musicians and it is this repertoire for the Maharajas that is featured here. The disc opens with a song of celebration for the birth of a prince. It has qawwali-like lead vocals from Sanjay Khan alternating with backing vocals driven by tablas and khartal (castanets).

One of the highlights is the bowed sarangi playing, which interweaves with the solo vocal line – and has solos of its own – on ‘Dhanra Saheba ji’ (‘Dream Wedding’). There are two excellent sarangi players featured: Sabri Khan and Lyikat Ali Khan. Overall, I feel the musicianship is somehow too polished. I miss the raw scratch and bite of the best Rajasthani folk, and I think the recordings would be more vivid and exciting if recorded closer. Also it would have been good to have more information about the songs or some translations.