Debashish Bhattacharya at CBC Studio 700 on Thursday

Posted on | July 24, 2010 | No Comments

by Brian Nation

The world of Indian classical music is filled with many remarkable performers but even among these masters Debashish Bhattacharya stands out for having adapted the Hawaiian slide guitar to the Indian raga and becoming its master, since he started performing professionally at age 4. Henry Kaiser has written, “Using the centuries-old raga tradition, Bhattacharya takes the listener to a place of deep emotional expression beyond the boundaries of time.”

Being also an improvised form of music, it seems natural for classical Indian and jazz musicians to play together and there have been many successful ventures in this direction. Bhattacharya himself, for example, has participated in a number of multicultural projects, most notably with John McLaughlin’s Shakti and a number of projects with slide guitar master Bob Brozman.

In a rare Vancouver appearance, Debashish Bhattacharya will perform next Thursday with his brother Subashis Bhattacharya on tablas and Vancouver residents, Bob Murphy on piano and Tom Keenlyside on saxes and flutes.

Murphy wrote in his media release, Ever since I first heard Ravi Shankar back in the early 1960s I have been a big fan of Indian classical music. I have often hoped for an opportunity to play with some Indian classical musicians and that opportunity has presented itself. Next Thursday July 29th I will have the privilege and honour of playing a concert with two great Indian musicians: Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya on Indian slide guitar, Subhasis Bhattacharya on tablas, along with my old pal, the phenomenal Tom Keenlyside on saxes and flutes. I will be playing piano. Indian classical music features improvisation very much like jazz so the crossover is a natural. If the rehearsal was any indication, we’re in for a beautiful night. Please join us.

Thursday, July 29 @ 8pm
CBC Studio 700, 700 Hamilton Street

For more information visit http://www.roguefolk.bc.ca/concerts/debashishbhattacharya.html

Debashish Bhattacharya’s web site