Flawless and fluid, the renowned Grammy-nominated, BBC-awarded, world-music innovator and master guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya earned his country’s reverential Pandit (master) designation as what one critic has called “the Indian embodiment of Jimi Hendrix.” Known for incredible improvisational ragas rooted in the traditions of his homeland, Bhattacharya also mixes the old school with modern new-world artistry.
Debashish Bhattacharya will perform in Reno as part of the University of Nevada, Reno’s 2012-13 Performing Arts Series, Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Nightingale Concert Hall on the university campus. Celebrating 20 years of world performances with an anniversary tour he calls “Madeira…if music could intoxicate,” Bhattacharya will appear with his daughter, vocalist Anandi Bhattacharya on tamboura, and his brother Subhasis on tabla.
The famous musical family represents generations of accomplishment in Indian raga music, the evocative tonal underpinning on which classical compositions are performed and improvised. Not only is Bhattacharya one of the best guitarists in the world, but when his basic slide guitar failed to support the astounding range of his modern riffs and spiritual ragas, he just invented several new ones. His pioneering handmade instruments — reminiscent of everything from violins and sitars to flamenco guitars, steel guitars and ukeleles — provide an otherworldly intermingling of American jazz and Delta blues with the ethereal traditions of India.
“Extraordinary note-bending artistry…” – The BBC Review
“Exquisite…takes slide guitar into territory Ry Cooder doesn’t even know about.” – London Daily Telegraph
For more about Debashish Bhattacharya, visit http://www.debashishbhattacharya.com .
For more about the Performing Arts Series, visit http://www.unr.edu/pas .
Individual tickets: Adult $24/ Senior $20/ Youth $12.
To purchase tickets online (with a convenience fee), visit http://www.unr.edu/pas . Tickets also may be purchased in person (without a convenience fee) at Lawlor Events Center, 1500 N. Virginia St., Reno, lower level entrance, Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and at the Church Fine Arts Building box office, one hour prior to performances. For more information, call (775) 784-4ARTS.
Nightingale Concert Hall is located in the University’s Church Fine Arts Building just south of 14th St. on North Virginia St. in Reno. A convenient patron drop-off area is located in front of the Church Fine Arts Building at the Virginia St. entrance. Parking is FREE on arts events evenings after 7 p.m. (and on weekends) in the University’s Brian J. Whalen Parking Complex, which is north of the Church Fine Arts Building and south of Lawlor Events Center.
