The contemporary performer of North Indian Classical vocals, Sangeet Martand Pandit Jasraj needs no introduction. His status as an unparalleled living legend confirmed by a scholarship instituted by the University of Toronto in his name for deserving young Canadian students wishing to train in Indian music, Pandit Jasraj has made history by being the first living Indian musician to be honored by a foreign university in this manner.
Musicians are usually honored with awards, but Panditji is the first musician who has been honored with awards being instituted in his name. A rolling trophy instituted by the Rotary Club of Bombay (Shivaji Park) and an award by the public of Poona, both in his name, exist as awards for young upcoming musicians. These are unprecedented events in the history of Indian Classical music, there being no other living musician in this genre whose name has been immortalized in his lifetime through its placement in awards.
Born into a family that has given to Indian music four generations of outstanding musicians, the Mewati maestro, Pandit Jasraj has his initial grooming in music under his father, the late Motiramji. He then underwent intensive tutelage under his elder brother and guru, the late Sangeet Mahamahopadhyaya Pandit Maniramji.
Endowed with a rich, soulful and sonorous voice, which traverses effortlessly over all 3 & half octaves, Panditji’s vocalizing is characterized by a harmonious blend of austere and opulent elements, projecting traditional music as an intense spiritual expression, at once chaste and densely coloured. This gives his music a very sublime emotional quality, touching the soul of the listener. He has been guided in this by spiritual guru, late Maharana Shri Jaiwant Singhji of Sanand, another doyen of Mewati gharana.
Perfect diction, clarity in sur (pitch) and command over all aspects of laya (rhythm) are other highlights of his music. He pays great attention to the choice of the composition and the words in it and uses them to evoke the desired mood and feeling. This sensitivity together with his pure classical approach has given his singing a lyrical quality, which is the quintessence of the Mewati style of singing.
Panditji has numerous LPs, CDs and cassettes to his credit. Working on ancient classical Sanskrit literature, he has released 6 cassettes in Sanskrit. He has also received several title and awards. To mention a few:
Padma Bhushan
Surer Guru, awarded by West Bengal Government Music College
Sangeet Martand
Sangeet Kala Ratna
Swami Shri Haridas Sangeet Ratna
Sangeet Natak Academy Award
Doctorate in Music by Vishwa Unnayan Samsad, West Bengal
Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar
Dinanath Mangeshkar Award
Rasraj Award
Kala Samrat Award accorded by the public of Varnasi, the ancient Centre of India, through the hands of Pandit Kishan Maharaj.
Shiromani Award, Delhi
Dr. Bhai Veer Singh International Award
Allauddin Sangeet Ratna Award
Rajeev Gandhi Award for professional excellence
Giants International Award
Naad-Brahma Shiromani, Ujjain, Civic reception
Hafiz Ali Award, Pune
Panditji has also been honoured by the Harvard University Art Museum in the U.S. and has been accorded civic receptions at Oklahoma City (U.S.), Bombay, Valsad, Nagpur and Hissar in India.
Panditji’s greatest and most original contribution in the field of Indian Music is his conception of an unique and novel jugalbandi based on the ancient system of moorchanas, between a male and female vocalist, each singing in their respective scales and different ragas at the same time. This has been so well acclaimed all over India that connoisseurs of music in Poona of named it "Jasrangi Jugalbandi" after his name.
Panditji has also conducted deep research in Haveli Sangeet, his mentor in this genre being Baba Shyam Manohar Goswami Maharaj. Not content to remain merely a performer, he has composed beautiful bandishes (compositions) and popularized them. He is a "Nayak" in the true sense of the word.
As a guru, Panditji is unequaled, successfully imparting his knowledge and love of music to a number of disciples with the care and solicitude of a true teacher in the Indian tradition. Pandit Jasraj School of Music Foundation established in Vancouver and Pandit Jasraj Academy of Music, New Jersey are testimony to Panditji’s commitment and dedication as a Guru.
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Musicians are usually honored with awards, but Panditji is the first musician who has been honored with awards being instituted in his name. A rolling trophy instituted by the Rotary Club of Bombay (Shivaji Park) and an award by the public of Poona, both in his name, exist as awards for young upcoming musicians. These are unprecedented events in the history of Indian Classical music, there being no other living musician in this genre whose name has been immortalized in his lifetime through its placement in awards.