Live Booking Agency

PANDIT DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA

Generally available, now booking 2008/9 in UK (in collaboration with Diva /Musiques des Mondes)

Click here to listen to sound samples and the online shopping page for this artist

Line up:
2 musicians, Debashish Bhattacharya - guitars
Subhasis Bhattacharya- tabla

Pandit (master) Debashish Bhattacharya is one of the world's most remarkable slide guitarists. He has spent a lifetime in intensive study, performance and innovation of the guitars that he plays. All the guitars are unique instruments designed by Debashish himself, a Trinity of Guitars- Chaturangui, Gandharvi and Anandi - representing three generations of instruments, while also continuing a thousand-year tradition of music. A performance of Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya dazzles the listener with hypnotic patterns and stunning music shaped from Debashish’s original three-finger picking technique.

Born into a musical family on 12 January 1963, in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, Debashish Bhattacharya learnt to sing before he could talk. At the age of 3, he started playing the Hawaiian lap steel guitar, giving his first major concert on All India Radio at 4. The first slide guitarist to receive the President of India Award in 1984 he was made a Pandit (master) at 40. Since then he has been established as one of the world's most outstanding slide guitarists through tours of inspirational live concerts and best selling albums, including collaborations with other world famous guitarists such as John McLaughlin and Shakti, Bob Brozman and Martin Simpson

First of his invention is the Chaturangui – a 24 string hollow neck guitar, followed by the 14 string Ghandharvi, which holds the longest glissando and the Anandi, s 4-string slideukulele, played at the end of a performance. All three combine aspects of the western guitar with elements of traditional Indian instruments.

This extremely personable and gifted artist takes the audience on a timeless journey through the history of Indian classical music, bringing it into the 21st century, with detours into the blues and Hawaiian music.

Debashish Bhattacharya UK and Ireland Tour July 2008

1st July - York Early Music Centre
Box Office - 01904-658338 www.ncem.co.uk

4th July - London, Barbican City of London Festival
Box Office - 020 7638 8891 www.colf.org

5th July – Sonic Arts Research Centre, Belfast
www.movingonmusic.co.uk

6th July – workshop - Interchange Studios, London
Far Side Music 020-7722-3054, www.farsidemusic.com

9th July – Cairde Festival, The Factory Performance Space, Sligo, Ireland
www.blueraincoat.com

10th July - The Stables, Milton Keynes
Box Office - 01908 280800 www.stables.org

11th July - Berkhamstead – with Martin Simpson, Civic Centre
Box Office – 01442-228918 www.martinsimpson.com

12th July -Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton
Box Office -01902-321 321 www2.wlv.ac.uk/arena/

13th July - Croydon Summer Festival
www.croydonfestival.com

Debashish Bhattacharya and Michael Messer Slide Guitar Workshop:

A very special workshop featuring perhaps the world’s greatest slide guitar virtuoso, Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya and the UK’s wonderful slide player and Cooking Vinyl artist Michael Messer.

The workshop will include:

• Basic techniques and approach to Indian Music.
• Basic compositions on one Raga.
• How to fuse Indian Raga music with contemporary aesthetics.
• The chaturangui the 22 string Indian Slide Guitar and it's global positioning in world music.

TIME & PLACE:

Sunday 6th July 2008 - from 4pm to 8pm

The Council Chamber
InterChange Studios
Old Hampstead Town Hall Centre
213 Haverstock Hill
London NW3 4QP

www.interchange.org.uk/content/

BOOKING & PAYMENT:

Spaces are limited, so please book in advance.

The price is £50 pounds in advance. Or, subject to availability £60 pounds on the day.

Cheques to be made payable to Far Side Music and sent to:

Far Side Music
80c Belsize Park Gardens
London
NW3 4NG

Far Side Music (Paul Fisher): +44 - 020 - 7722 -3054 – or email:

If you want to pay by credit card – by telephone (we also accept switch) or pay securely online. Make an order for a Debashish Bhattacharya CD, but write 'WORKSHOP' under special instructions in the Shipping and Handling section to let us know this is a payment for the workshop and not for a CD.

http://www.farsidemusic.com/acatalog/DEBASHISH_BHATTACHARYA.html

DINNER AFTERWARDS WITH DEBASHISH & MICHAEL:

We will book a table or two at an Indian restaurant nearby for 8.30. Please let Paul at Far Side Music know in advance if you would like to join us for dinner (dinner at your own expense).

We will provide a few snacks and some tea & coffee in the room during the workshop.

PARKING & TRANSPORT:

Parking nearby is possible on a Sunday. The nearest tube is Belsize Park on the Northern Line. 10 minutes to Kings Cross & Euston stations (for anyone coming from the north of England), or St Pancras International for anyone coming on the Eurostar.