Debashish Bhattacharya - A Slide Guitar Master
My first encounter with Debashish Bhattacharya's musical genius was several years ago when he was performing the Folk Festival Circuit across Canada with his Tabla playing brother Subhasis.
Born in Calcutta India on January 12, 1963 to vocalist parents in a family of musicians that goes back generations, Bhattacharya was destined to follow his musical lineage, learning to sing before he could talk. Enamoured with the tones of a Hawaiian lap guitar that made its way into the Bhattacharya home, a 3-year old Debashish started playing guitar giving his first concert on All India Radio at the age of 4. He made it his life’s mission to enhance the instrument to better suit the traditional Indian music of his heritage. After more than 20 prototypes, he created his “Trinity of Guitars”: hollow neck, 24-string Chaturanui and 14-string Gandharvi coupled with a 4-string lap steel ukulele called the Anandi. He was the first slide guitarist to receive the president of India Award in 1984 and was awarded the title of Pandit, an honour in India conferred on an expert in Indian Classical Music, at the age of 40.
With over 8 best-selling albums, including 2009 Grammy Nominated 'Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey', and collaborations with the likes of slide guitarist Bob Brozman and guitarist John McLaughlin, Bhattacharya’s music reflects his life’s philosophy - there is no East or West in music. He draws from all music genres – Indian, Classical, Jazz, Blues, Folk and New Music - which enables him to connect with his audience in a most personal and inspirational level and has garnered him as one of the world’s most outstanding slide guitarists. A dedicated guru and pathfinder, Bhattacharya’s quest to fight ignorance, to teach and lead others to greater understanding is demonstrated in a syllabus on Indian Classical guitar he wrote, the first of its kind, which includes technical terminologies and abbreviations.
A live performance of slide-master Debashish Bhattacharya will stimulate your senses of sight as well as sound. While watching, you will be enamoured by his technical virtuosity and in listening to him, you will be taken on a musical journey unlike no other. His performances are founded on the rich traditions of yesterday, contain the sentiments of the present and move you forward to the unlimited possibilities of the future. Enjoy and be transpired.
As printed in the March 2011 issue of Odeum Magazine.
When: Thursday, March 31, 2011
Where: Rose Theatre Brampton,
1 Theatre Lane
Brampton, ON L6V 1A2
Time: 8:00 pm
Tickets: $26, $36, $46
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