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Debashish Bhattacharya Slide Guitar Bobby Singh Tabla Debashish Bhattacharya is considered, by many, to be the most accomplished slide guitarist alive today. His guru, BrijBhushanKhabra, is considered the father of Indian classical guitar, indeed he was the first artist to play Hindustani classical music on slide guitar. In 1933 slide guitar came from Hawaii to Kolkata, India (the hometown of Debashish). Debashish learned Hawaiian guitar in early childhood, creating his unique technique and was considered a genius when he was 10. His further studies with PanditBrij channelled his knowledge into a mastery of the instrument with a direct emotional connection. Through his extreme virtuosity Debashish Bhattacharya has won the hearts of millions all over the world...He doesn't believe in the difference between classical music from the East and West, but sees it instead as simply universal. Music is his faith, which he believes, gives peace and joy to listeners. A designer musician, Debashish has gone on to develop his own brand of innovative Hindustani slide guitars after years of research and experience. So far, he has designed 19 guitars and currently tours the world with his patented Trinity named-Chaturangui, Gandharvi and Anandi. In his eternal quest to give the Indian slide guitar a coveted place on the world music map, he collaborates extensively, exploring common threads in various musical styles. Among his co-collaborators are UstadZakirHussain, John McLaughlin, Jeff Lang, Jerry Douglas, Derek Trucks and other world renowned musicians. He has been featured in USA’s Billboard Top 10 several times, Songlines Magazine Top 10 and the Central Asia and Asia Pacific World Music Top 10. Debashish was nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award in the category of Best Traditional World Music Album for his album Calcutta Chronicles, listed on Amazon's Top 100 albums, presented with the National Geographic, 2007 BBC Planet Award for World Music, 2005 Asiatic society Gold Medal and received the 1984 President of India Gold Medal. Bobby Singh Tabla Born and raised in England, Bobby spent a great deal of his childhood in Mumbai studying at SangeetMahabharati, an institute of music started by the great tabla maestro Pandit Nikhil Ghosh. Recognised with a great talent at a young age, Bobby became a student of Ghosh’s senior disciple AneeshPradhan, now one of the most sought after tabla players in the world. Through Aneesh’s guidance, Bobby was nurtured into a mature and internationally renowned tabla player, both in traditional Indian classical music and cross cultural genres, and is renowned throughout Australia and internationally for his work with acts that straddle the divide between tradition and modernity. Now a resident of Australia, he still spends most of his time between India and Australia. He regularly plays alongside cultural icons such as Grammy Award-winner PanditVishwa Mohan Bhatt, John Butler and SlavaGrigoryan. Bobby also lends his flavour to the organic dance stylings of one of Australia’s finest live electronic dance outfits, The Bird, as well as through his work with percussion trio Circle of Rhythm and DjanDjan. He has received numerous awards and accolades and performed with some of the finest musicians in Australia and overseas including, Greg Sheehan,Ben Walsh, David Hirschfelder, John Butler Trio, Sandy Evans, Pandit Ashok Roy, AneeshPradhan, ShubhaMudgal, PurbayanChatterjee, ShashankSubramaniyam, PtKaraikudi Mani, Billy Cobham, Joseph Tawadros, Kim Sanders, Ian Dixon, Charlie McMahon, Jeremy Allsop, SandipanSamajpati, ParthoSarathy, Tony Gorman and Adrian McNeil. He has performed at festivals nationally and internationally including WOMAdelaide, Woodford Folk Festival, Bellingen Global Carnival, Sydney Festival, Hyde Park Festival, Worlds Fair Bonn, Livid, Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Melbourne, Perth International Arts Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and Arts on the Move, where his exciting, soulful and inspiring playing has become a highlight. Bobby is considered one of the most experienced tabla players and is a highly respected musician in Australia’s world music scene. Recently, a documentary on his musical life was recorded and shown on SBS titled Viva, I Belong Everywhere. He has recorded many classical and fusion CDs featuring some of the most exciting performers in the land. Amongst his recent CDs are DjanDjan, a collaborative mini album with Jeff Lang and MamadouDiabate; Metrical with Circle of Rhythm;Aasha, an Indian classical music recording with sarod player Adrian McNeil; Ruhani, a duet with Oud player Joseph Tawadros; Birdville Sessions with The Bird and a live DVD, Live at the Studio Opera House with The Bird. He was also featured as a guest on Cities with The Cat Empire and John Butler Trio’s recording Grand National.

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