Grammy nominee Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya and Real Ones, a Norwegian band:
Kolkata’s Grammy nominee Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya and Real Ones, a Norwegian band, are set to enthrall audiences in Bombay and Kolkata during the first week of February 2010. It was in April last year when Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya was in Norway for the world premiere of his new production “O Shakuntala!” that he collaborated with Real Ones for the first time. A fine confluence of Indian classical, Norwegian folk and contemporary jazz was lapped up by audiences and the show received worldwide acclaim. After a year, the refreshing band from Norway is finally here in India to tour with Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya with performances at Big Ben and CCFC in Kolkata on February 5 and 6, respectively, and Bluefrog, Mumbai, on February 9.
Real Ones are currently a sensation in Britain with their songs and instrumentals opening fresh soundscapes. These Norwegians provide a sound influenced but not copied from their idols, drenched with lyrics as sweet as sugar and often concerning subjects ranging from solitude, friendship, love and even ethics.
Through a combination of acoustic instruments (violin, guitar, banjo, mandolin, sitar, harmonica, and creative afro-beat percussion) mixed with folk-rock a lá The Byrds, vocal harmonies a lá The Beach Boys and Beatles, and the mixing of influences from around the world including Ali Farka Touré, Nusfrat Ali Khan and Chinese folk-music, Real Ones have created a unique style of music. Their songwriting however is mainly based on the country/folk tradition found in the sixties in England and the US.
Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya, on the other hand, continues to evolve into a global inspiration as he takes Indian classical music on a journey into the 21st Century. His musical journey began at the age of four when he first strummed a Hawaiian lap guitar. His multi-dimensional intrigue for music became more intense with his invention of the Trinity of Guitars – the patented Chaturangui, Gandharvi and Anandi – a combination which has awed people all over the world.
Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya’s latest ventures surpass the boundaries of musical expression. If the Grammy nominated album “Calcutta Chronicles” depicts musical sojourns from Andalusia to Hawaii via erstwhile Calcutta, then his latest opus “O Shakuntala!” transports one to the classical era of Sanskrit theatre. Jump cut to January 2010 when Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya is chosen as the artist to open the 10th anniversary of New York Guitar Festival.
The guitar maestro’s U.S. tours have stunned audiences with his lightning-fast playing skills and his spectacular interaction with his brother, Subhasis, on the tabla. From captivating festival sets, to five hour public concerts, to jamming with renowned musicians such as Derek Trucks and Jerry Douglas, to collaborating with John McLaughlin and Bob Brozman, Pt. Debashish Bhattacharya's music, spirit, and generosity have won him new admirers and devotees around the world.
Having studied under Maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan ( Sarod ), Pt. Ajoy Chalraborty (Khayal, Vocal) and the legendary Pt. Brij Bhushan Kabra, the Godfather of Indian Classical Guitar, there really is no way to describe this astonishing Indian musician short of seeing his live performance with one of Europe’s best band Real Ones.
- February 5, 2010 at Big Ben, The Kenilworth, Kolkata, India
- February 6, 2010 at CCFC, Kolkata, India
- February 9, 2010 at Bluefrog, Mumbai, India
Concert information: