In this Chaitime, we talk to vocalist, composer, and scholar of Hindustani classical, semi-classical, and devotional music Pandit Raja Kale (http://www.rajakale.com) and listen to his compositions, recorded in KZSU studio. Pandit Kale is accompanied by renowned bay-area artist Raju Chithambaram, founder of Andaaz creations.

Pandit Raja Kale is a senior disciple of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki. He also received valuable guidance from Pandit C. P. Rele and Pandit Balasaheb Poonchwale from the Gwalior Gharana. Pandit Raja Kale is known for rendering both old and new Hindustani classical music with an approach that is at once eclectic and focused on the performance. With his appealing style and gifted voice with wide range and rare tonal qualities, Pt. Raja Kale achieves perfect articulation in the alaap, taan as well as the exposition of the Bandish. He is equally proficient in presenting Thumri, Tappa, Natyageet, Bhajan, and Bhavgeet. He holds a Ph.D. with the thesis on the Importance of Bandish in Khayal. He has also received a senior fellowship from the Department of Culture of the Government of India for the study of the subject: Comparative study and analysis of "Gayaki" of Legendary singers Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Kumar Gandharva, Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, and Pandit Jasraj. Pandit Kale is the founder of Swarabhishek Gurukul, a music academy with the goal of teaching the real essence of Hindustani classical and semi-classical music. He has performed live on several notable occasions, and on broadcast media, including TV and Radio in India.

Raju Chithambaram is a lead vocalist in Bay Area band Andaaz Creations. Raju is a student of Mahesh Kale & Pandit Laxmi Ganesh Tewari and has sung with Kavita Krishnamurthy, Sadhana Sargam, and other elite Bollywood artists. Andaaz Creations is the originator of the Bollywood Broadway Musical and has raised over $1M in fundraisers.