Debashish Bhattacharya

Born in Kolkata in 1963 into a family of vocalists, by age 4 Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya had already learned to play classical Indian ragas on the Hawaiian lap steel slide guitar, making his debut on All India Radio. After further training with family, at age 21, when most artists in the field would normally start promoting themselves, he chose instead to take on a 10-year period of rigorous and highly disciplined training with the great teacher Pandit Brij Bhashan Kabra, the pioneer of Indian classical guitar. During this time, he made no public performances, but developed a deep understanding of traditional music and a simply mind-boggling technical skill. Emerging from these years of hardship came a unique vision that not only preserves the classical tradition but extends it into newly imagined forms and colors.

Critical to carrying out this vision are the unique instruments that he designs and manufactures. He has invented a number of slide guitars, uniquely adapted to his music including the 24-string Chaturangui, the 23-string Pushpa Veena, the 14-string Gandharvi, and the 4-string Anandi.

Bhattacharya has received numerous awards and accolades, whose highlights include the President of India Gold Medal in 1994, a Grammy nomination, Billboard Magazine’s Top 10 world music recordings, Songlines Magazine’s Top 10 recordings and the BBC Planet Award. His 2018 album “Hawaii to Kolkata: a Tribute to Tau Mo” was #3 in “50 Greatest World Music Albums of the Last Five Years” published by Songlines Magazine in the UK.

Bhattacharya’s devotees and recording collaborators include John McLaughlin, Jerry Douglas, Derek Trucks, Ballake Sissoko, Lulo Reinhardt, Martin Simpson, Bob Brozman, and Zakir Hussain.