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.

In his childhood he mastered many Indian classical instrumental styles as well as vocal music from different musical teachersin Calcutta. He became a disciple and student of Brij Bhushan Khabra, the father of Indian classical guitar, for 10 years, and also trained under Ajoy Chakrabarty, the eminent Indian vocalist. He has also studied with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan.

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 by tours of inspirational live concerts and bestselling albums, including the breathtaking collaboration with slide guitarist Bob Brozman, Mahima. A designer, as well as a virtuoso, Debashish has designed nineteen slide guitars since he began experimenting in his twenties.

To develop his playing, he has undergone decades of disciplined study of Indian vocal technique combined with his instrumental work. Debashish can sing perfectly in parallel with every blindingly fast melody he plays. Possessed of a very open musical mind, Debashish is eager and more than qualified to collaborate and truly blend with musicians from any other country.

Since 1996, his collaboration with Bob Brozman has resulted in two "World of Slide" tours of the USA and Canada, plus more appearances with Bob, and with The International Troupe, in Canada and South Africa. Most recently, Debashish has toured Europe and recorded with John McLaughlin and his latest incarnation of Shakti. In 2002, Debashish returned to Quebec with Bob.

All the guitars heard on 3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar 3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar (Riverboat TUGCD1036), his 2005 album, 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. 3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar is shaped from Debashish's original three-finger picking technique.

A designer, as well as a virtuoso, Debashish has designed nineteen slide guitars since he began experimenting in his twenties, and the three guitars heard on this album are all his individual designs. `Aanandam' (`Joy') opens the album with Debashish performing on `Anandi', a slide ukulele that he designed which produces a surprisingly direct, clear tone.

Raga Tilak Kamod is an evening raga played on the fourteen-stringed Ghandarvi, whose name derives from Gandharva loka, the celestial realm of music. Composed of two parts, the second ? `Nata Raaj' (`Dance Of Shiva') ? unites the traditions of Hindustani (North) and Karnatic (South) Indian tradition using a Khani rhythm pattern (swinging tintal).

Chaturangui ? a twenty-two-string guitar with four additional tones ? completes the Guitar Trinity and is featured in Raga Basant Mukhari. In the first section, `Usha', Sutapa Bhattacharya plays the background drone of the tambura whilst Debashish delicately introduces each note of the raga. In the second part, `Prabha', Debashish performs with tabla accompaniment from Subhasis Bhattacharjee. The final section, `Maha Shakti' (`Beyond The Sun') is performed at a fast tempo in tintal, a sixteen-beat cycle, displaying fantastic improvisation between the guitar and tablas.
 

Official Web Site: http://www.debashishguitar.com/about.html

Mahima

3: Calcutta Slide-Guitar (Riverboat TUGCD1036, 2005)

Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide-Guitar Odyssey (Riverboat, TUG1049, 2008)