Derek Gripper & Debashish Bhattacharya

South African musician Derek Gripper has spent much of his career translating highly complex kora compositions for classical guitar. Indian musician Debashish Bhattacharya developed a unique Hindustani slide guitar style, on an instrument called the chatarangui – which he designed and built. Each has redefined the styles of music possible on his instrument, inventing new playing techniques and developing bold new repertoires. Both Gripper and Bhattacharya like to collaborate with musicians from cultural traditions very different from their own; in this project, they bring their elegant and virtuosic string styles into glorious, inventive dialogue.

Presented in partnership with the Dhar India Studies Program at IU.