Ghazal Rhapsody

Talat Aziz8217;s latest album promises to be his most versatile so far

It8217;s been a while since ghazal singer Talat Aziz burst on the Indian classical music scene with the melodic Baat phholon ki and Zindagi jab bhi teri bazm from Umrao Jaan. Aziz8217;s stirring voice now returns with Carvaan-e-Ghazal, a nine-track album produced by Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Music that will release in January 2009. Aziz8217;s previous album, Silver Jubilee Concert, in 2004, met with lukewarm response. This album, he says, follows a more contemporary sound lately, Aziz has been accused of tampering with the original ghazal sound and blending it with jazz and other forms. 8220;I don8217;t see anything wrong with experimenting with sound especially at a time when Urdu as a language is fading,8221; says Aziz. 8220;It is important to make youngsters relate to this form of gayaki.8221; Aziz acknowledges the dwindling audience for ghazals, but is optimistic that things will improve. Interestingly, the singer has chosen completely unknown verse by his favourite poets- like Ghalib, Zafar and Faiz Ahmad Faiz for this album.

8220;So far Ghalib has overshadowed most Urdu writers. But there are many other great poets as well,8221; he says. One of the tracks from the album is a duet with playback singer Sonu Nigam. Talking about interactions between Pakistani and Indian singers coming to a halt post the Mumbai attacks, Aziz says, 8220;We can8217;t hamper the musical relationship that has been shared for decades, just because of a few crazy men.8221;