Debashish Bhattacharya

Debashish Bhattacharya

Debashish Bhattacharya is an Indian classical guitarist from Kolkata, India, born in 1963. He begins learning classical Indian music from his parents in childhood and develops a career centred on the slide guitar in the Hindustani classical tradition.

Style and instrument development

Bhattacharya is known for inventing the 24-string Hindustani slide guitar. He modifies the Western guitar into a new instrument designed to serve classical Indian music while remaining closely tied to that tradition.

Collaborations and recognition

He collaborates with the American slide guitarist Bob Brozman and with the jazz-fusion musician John McLaughlin, who is associated with Shakti. Bhattacharya wins a BBC World Music Award for 2007.

Recordings

His album Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey is part of his recorded output.