Debashish BhattacharyaThe Biscuit BurnersPLEASE NOTE: WE REGRET TO ADVISE THAT DUE TO ILLNESS, THE BISCUIT BURNERS WILL BE UNABLE TO PERFORM AT TONIGHT'S SHOW. THE SHOW WILL TAKE PLACE WITH DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA PERFORMING THROUGHOUT. Indian slide guitar maestro Debashish Bhattacharya, whose new Riverboat album “Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey” is set for release in the US on April 8th, initially trained in Indian classical vocal music, but after picking up a guitar, he became fascinated by the potential of the instrument to capture the nuances of the human voice, especially when played with a slide. To further this end, he developed three unique instruments that have become his trademarks: the Chaturangui (Hindustani slide guitar), which is a 24-stringed hollow neck Indian Classical Guitar; the Gandharvi, a fourteen-string guitar, and Anandi (a slide-ukelele). He is unquestionably one of the most brilliant slide guitarists of the present generation. Debashish will be performing with his sister Sutapa on vocals, and his brother Subhasis on tablas. In addition, however, tonight's show promises to be very special indeed with the addition of special guests The Biscuit Burners. Two members of The Biscuit Burners have studied guitar with Bhattacharya and will be sharing the stage with him to display how their own brand of "fiery mountain music," with roots that touch on bluegrass, classic country and world music, is deeply connected to the Indian classical music of their guru.

All three of Bhattacharya’s Trinity of Guitars combine aspects of the western guitar (including Blues and Hawaiian music) with elements of traditional Indian instruments, and have allowed him to adapt the slide guitar to the demands of the Indian raga form. In every performance, Debashish Bhattacharya takes the time to describe for his audiences the unique properties, qualities and personalities of these guitars and their proximity to the human voice, emulated through his nuanced, highly emotive and deeply skilled playing.

Debashish says of his upcoming tour, “We had great success in the previous tour and many people could not make it to the shows as all tickets were sold much in advance. We had promised that we would return someday to play to all those who loved us so much, and we are ready to go. It will be different of course in content with new music, as my new album, Calcutta Chronicles – Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey, will be released at the same time. But let me remind all that the biggest advantage of Indian classical music is that the same raga played a hundred times will always be different in approach and flavour. This is how Indian raga music has survived more than one thousand years and continues to be ever-living, braving the threats of globalization. Though we are bringing many new and more interactive compositions composed by me, they will be presented through vocal, percussive and instrumental recitals together."

'Each instrument possesses a sound of its own, from the joyous innocence of the smallest to the complexity of the largest, on which he uses a unique three-finger picking technique that gives him lightning speed and creates hypnotic flurries of notes that it would take a battery of special effects to produce from a Western guitar. The results are as beautiful as they are extraordinary.’ The Times, UK – 4****stars


His work has earned him a President of India award in 1984, The Asiatic Society Gold Medal in 2005 and BBC Planet Award for World Music in 2007.

Debashish Bhattacharya Workshop
Thursday April 10 2008
6-8pm
West Bank School of Music
$50 per person
By reservation only/limited enrollment

For reservations contact
Steve Kaul <steve@dreamhorserecords.com> or 612 702 5887

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