Debashish's Biography ( Brief version )  


PANDIT DEBASHISH BHATTACHARYA a born Guitar Wizard, today's a legend of slide guitar is a global inspiration in the contemporary musical scenario of India and world. From the age of four a child's fancy with a Hawaiian guitar evolves into creating patented guitars and unique playing style that has been mesmerizing audiences and artists world over four decades. Global recognition of the patented guitars Chaturangui, Gandharvi and Anandi, which not only excel in sound variety and quality, have also become popular instruments and created a niche in Guitar World.

With the lineage of Gurus like Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra and Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty and Late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan the inspiration has gone beyond performance. He has been featured in bill-board top 10, SongLines Magazine top 10, Central Asia and Asia paci c world music top 10, Amazon top 100 albums, National Geography and world's who's who enlisted artiste. 2016 Songlines Music Award, 2002 and 2009 Grammy Nominee, 2007 BBC Planet Award, 2005 Asiatic society Gold medal, 1984 President of India Gold Medal, worth mentioning. 50 years of Guitar playing side by side has created a line of young guitarists more than 3000 of them are his direct and indirect disciples of four generations, many of them today bearing his torch.

His imagination of Guitar soundscape has created four Guitars globally accepted as a creation of Debashish, Debashish Bhattacharya's music has given a niche of Hindustani Fusion. Produced numerous world music collaborations rst time in history of Indian music. Made cross cultural bridges as a reference for the futuristic projects in Indian and world music. His unique take in contemporary compositions as a composer has attracted global legends like American Dobro Guitarists 12 times Grammy winner Jerry Douglas, African Kora Legend Ballake Sissoko, Jazz Guitar Legend John Mc- Laughlin, Moroccan Oud legend Driss el Maloumi, American Bluesman Bob Brozman, British Singer Martin Simpson, Australian Rocker John Butler American Rocker Henry Kaizer, Indian legends Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pt Ravi Shankar and Many others. Debashish provides supports to 6 guitar Luthier families of Bengal by providing them his patented designs to produce his instruments and sell them globally. A kind human being he is still seeking blessing from almighty to learn and grow every day.


 

Debashish's Biography (Short Press Note)  

Through over 50 years of experience in study and performance, Debashish has pioneered a style of Hindustani slide guitar that is remarkable and unique. Through exhaustive research and experience, he has designed and patented 3 guitars for raga music, which he has named Chaturangui, Gandhravi and Anandi, travelled around India and world for more than 35 years representing Raga music and created a nish.

Gurus: Parents Shree Sunil Kumar Bhattacharya, Shreemati Manjushree Bhattacharya, Late Acharya Gokul Nag, Late Acharya Maharaj Bandyopadhyay, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Late Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra, Late Swar Samrat Ustad Ali Akbar khan.

Debashish has played these guitars live and or on record with Ustad Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, Late Mandoline U.Shrinivas, Jerry Douglas, Derek Trucks, Ballake Sissoko, Driss el Maloumi and many other world renowned musicians. In India, he has performed for Pandit Ravi Shankar and also appeared in many Indian music festivals.

Debashish's approach to Raga music and philosophy of teaching has changed the life of many. Having played more than 3000 concerts all around the world and trained over 1000 students. Debashish has redefined Indian Classical Music on slide guitar. His enormous work on first 16 stages of Slide guitar syllabus is the hallmark of his s dedication to his creations.Through his incredible talent and discipline, Debashish has elevated the Hindustani slide guitar to be the highest evolution of slide guitar on a global level.


 

Factual Biography of Debashish Bhattacharya  

  • Date of birth: 12-01-1963

  • Gurus and their subjects -

    Shri Sunil Kumar Bhattacharya khyal (Father)

    Smt. Manju Shree Bhattacharya khyal (Mother)

    Late Pandit Gokul Nag (Sitar)

    Pandit Brij Bhushan Kabra (Guitar)

    Late Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (Sarod)

    Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty (Khyal)

  • Academic: Geography Honours (Calcutta University) 1984
  • Creation: Hindustani Classical Guitar - Chaturangui, Gandharvi, Anandi and Debangui.
  • Style Dhrupad Alap jod to khyal style Gat jhala to thumri ang.
  • Performing in AIR since the age of four.
  • First live broadcasting from Akashvani with Ustad Karamatullah Khan on tabla.
  • All Bengal music competition winner 1978. Same year he first developed Chaturangui.
  • All Bengal music competition first 1978, 79, 81 Recieved awards from stalwarts like Pandit Radhika Mohan Mitra, Pandit Jnan Prakash Ghosh, Acharya Shree Hirendra Kumar Ganguly and Shri Satyajit Ray.
  • Radio Competition first prize 1984.
  • Performing in India professionally since 1991.
  • Music reflects mix of Patiala, Maehar and Gwalior Gharana.
  • Wrote first Indian classical guitar syllabus in 1981.
  • Performed with Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Swapan Chowdhury, Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, Ustad Sabir Khan, Ustad Rafiuddin Sabri, Shree Yogesh Samsi, And many more.
  • Performed more than 2000 concerts in all over the world. Specially North America Has recorded 21 albums.

  • Received BBC award 2007 and Grammy Nomination 2009. Asiatic Society gold medal 2005 and He has done more than thirty years research work which started around 1975 covering finger style of right hand, finger picking and wrist movement of the left hand to create a new world of Hindustani Raaga guitar playing..

    Out of many Twelve guitarists of India studied with that syllabus with Debashishji are performing in Akashbani/ door darshan as A grade artistes.

  • Internationally he has been in Billboard top 10 artiste, World's who's who and national geography enlisted artiste, Among Amazon's top 100 album are a few instances of his dedicated life to Guitar.

  • Contact No: + 91 98309 73333

    E-mail: debashishguitar@gmail.com

 

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