by Ken HuntWhen Ali Akbar Khan was still young he would help Nikhil Banerjee prepare for the arduous study regime of Allauddin Khan, who was Ali Akbar Khan's father as well as Nikhil Banerjee's guru. Years later Ali Akbar Khan would play with the sitarist some nine years his junior and this sarod-sitar jugalbandi is an example of the heights they could achieve as this unexpected unearthing proves. It has a rare, essential beauty. Evidently his clandestine visits paid off handsomely.