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Topic: Debashish Battacharya in Hawaii NOW !!! |
Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 7:31 am |
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Master Indian slide guitarist Debashish Battacharya will be in Hawaii this month and performing at various venues, including a jam with Hawaiian musicians. If you are in Hawaii, DO NOT MISS THIS (Jeff Au Hoy and Ron Whitfield, are you listening?).
Here's the scoop:
15th February to 29th February -
Residency at University of Hawaii , USA.
Concerts on 20th and 28th February
Contact Patricia Dunn of University of Hawaii.
Phone - 1.808.956.6084e
mail - pdunn@hawaii.edu
February 18th open for rehearsals February 19th a lecture demo for UH music classes February 20th school services and concert
i). Friday, Feb. 20th at 8 p.m. Kolkata Kanikapila, an open jam session with Debashish Bahattacahraya plus Hawaiian Musicians Orvis Auditorium University of Hawai`i Music Department
2411 Dole Street
Free Admission
Info: 956-6084
February 21 and 22 open February
23 radio show February
24 Lecture for Asian Studies February
25 open February 26 UH Brown Bag lecture February
27 open for rehearsal February
28 Honolulu Academy of Arts concert.
ii) Saturday, Freb. 28th at 7:30 p.m. Solo Concert of Indian Classical Music
Honolulu Academy of Arts
900 S. Beretania St.
Admission
Info: 532-8700
Additional information on him is available at his website: http://www.debashishbhattacharya.com/
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 9:42 am
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This sounds like an incredible deal. If you're in the area, you really ought to go out of your way to see him perform.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
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Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 10:19 am
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| Curious as to how Indian slide guitar is different from, or relates to, Hawaiian steel guitar? I believe I've read that the modern steel guitar traces it's roots through Hawaii back to it's origins in India. Correct? Thanks! |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 10:53 am
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There's a page in Debashish's website that traces the roots of Indian slide to Hawaii.
Practically speaking, the Indian slide guitar technique does not generally employ chords or vibrato. Imagine what Ravi Shankar sounds like playing a raga on sitar but played on a lap guitar with a bullet bar and you'll get the idea. The speed and accuracy is mind blowing. Debashish is a virtuoso and most consider him the best in the world. His playing, while technically brilliant, is also deeply soulful and moving.
Another interesting thing about Debashish is that not only is he familiar with the classical Indian forms, his listening and appreciation for other types of music goes beyond that. Of course, in playing the ragas he sticks to the Indian way.
Andy Volk's lap steel book has a very interesting interview with him and is well worth reading. But to truly appreciate this master musician, you must see him in person. [This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 19 February 2004 at 03:29 PM.] |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 11:19 am
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I know for a fact that Debashish Battacharya was the first to use the C6/A7 tuning 
Really though, thanks for the news Bill.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Jack Byrd
From:
Kalamazoo, Michigan
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 7:01 pm
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Gerald,
I sure would like to hear the proof of the statement he was the first to play C6/A7 other than you know for a fact. What are the facts. Please share your insight. |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 7:06 pm
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Jack I'm just joking around. I was hinting at all the forum dialog surrounding your brother's (Jerry Byrd) invention; the C6/A7 tuning. If you noticed I ended my posting with a "wink wink" icon.
No harm or disrespect intended.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 19 February 2004 at 07:06 PM.] |
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Jack Byrd
From:
Kalamazoo, Michigan
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 7:44 pm
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Just making sure Gerald, just making sure.  |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 8:02 pm
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Jack:
Please let Jerry know about this. It ain't Hawaiian, it ain't Country, but it's incredible music and musicianship. I can't help but think that as a musician Jerry would not respect and appreciate the virtuosity of Debashish Battacharya . Like Jerry, this is a person who has devoted his entire life to the instrument and has achieved the highest level of mastery on it.
Thank you,
Bill |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 19 Feb 2004 9:42 pm
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| Bill, many thanx for this great info. I sure wish this had been at least noted in advance on the HSGA site so those of us in the Oahu+ community could have been aware of his coming sooner, and I wouldn't have missed 2 days worth already. Of course, they can't be expected to know everything. |
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Jesse Pearson
From:
San Diego , CA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 12:00 am
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| Bill, what would be a good CD to get on the Indian Raga stuff? Also, does he have any music books out and where to order them? Thanks... |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 8:25 am
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Jesse:
I would recomend "Reflections of Love" as a good starter. This is pure Indian. He has some other collaborative albums out with Bob Brozman (the latest is Mahima).
I believe he also has performance video out called "Hindustani Slide Guitar" . I have not seen this.
He does not have any instruction books out to my knowledge, but does do workshops.
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Dave Boothroyd
From:
Staffordshire Moorlands
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Posted 20 Feb 2004 11:11 am
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I just wonder if there might just be a connection the other way. In southern India there is an instrument called a Veena. It looks like a sitar but it is played on your lap. It is older historically than the sitar.
Indians have also been sailors for centuries.
Is it possible that there might be a tradition of playing "face up" in Hawaii, that predates the arrival of Europeans and the spanish guitar?
It's not outrageous to suppose that Indian navigators might have found islands in the Pacific.
Cheers
Dave |
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