Guy Strazz- East-West guitar / composer
Described as a virtuoso of the electro acoustic classical and steel string guitars, Guy was born on the Adriatic costal city of Bari, Italy. His passion for music begun at an early age and was nurtured by both his mother and brother. He has studied with sarod master Ashok Roy (disciple of Ali Akbar Khan), Pat Martino, Charlie Banacos and Mike Stern (US), Brian Chat Po Ku (Hong Kong). Guy’s unique Contemporary World-jazz Fusion blend of Afro-Brazilian, Jazz and Indian classical has seen him perform from around the world at festivals such Jazz Yatra, Jakarta Jazz, Perth and Adelaide Arts Festivals, Clusone Jazz Festival and Japan World Expo, the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Jazz and Adelaide International Guitar Festival. He has collaborated with a variety of improvisers including Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Pt.Ashok Roy (disciple of Ali Akbar Khan), Martin Taylor, Slava Grigoryan, saxophonist Dale Barlow, Mike Stern and pianist Matt McMahon. In 2001-03 Guy was awarded the Music Fellowship by the Australia Council for the Arts, has received APRA (equivalent to ASCAP) Nominations and an APRA Award in 2000 for his World/Jazz composition Mandela.
Sandip Chatterjee - santoor/composer
Encouraged by his fathers, Asoke Kumar Chatterjee, a distinguished international footballer, Sandip Chatterjee was accepted, at the age of eight, as a pupil by the eminent Santoor player Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya in the year 1980. He has taken taleem of Ragdari and Layakari from vocal Maestro Pandit Ajay Chakraborty since 1999. Sandip has performed at major music conferences and festivals all over India, including: Doverlane Music Conference, Karnataka, Music Festival, Nikhil Banerjee Memorial and Saltlake Music Festival. He performs regularly in Europe and Jordan. His collaborations include the Nuokollin Jazz Orchestra and film and TV with Indian musicdirectors A.R Rahaman, Gulsan Kumar, Rabindra Jain and V.Balsara His CD’s include Moment Of Dawn, Mangal Dhwani, Summer Rain Shanti and Shringar. His awards include Best Hindustani Classical Instrumentalist Award in the all India Music and Dance competition in 1986, New Delhi; winner in 1990 of the President of India Award in Hindustani classical music - All India Radio - New Delhi. Jadubhatta Puraskar by Salt Lake Cultural Association of Kolkata. Sandip was also recognized by Pt.V. Balsara as A grade artiste of song and drama division of Govt. of India and received a National Scholarship in 2000-01. sandip73@cal3.vsnl.net.in
Biplab Bhattacharya - tabla & pakhawaj
Biplab was born in 1975 and was encouraged to play tabla at an early age by his father, Prof Kanai Bhattacharya (most senior disciple of pandit Kanai Dutta). He has studied with Pt. Shankar Ghosh and Pandit Arabinda Ghosh at Bengal Music College (Calcutta). He is a recipient of several awards including: Sangeet Kalakar Degree (Hon) Senior National Scholarship in 1995; Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Memorial Scholarship’ in 1993-94; Biman Ghosh Memorial Challenge Trophy (Best New Talent) in 1995 Sangeet Kala Ratna’ award from Matri Udbodhan Ashram – Patna (2001). Biplab has performed and recorded in India, U.S.A, Canada, South Africa, Jordan, Mongolia and Europe collaboratingwith fine musicians & dancers such as Smt. Sujata Banerjee (Kathak), Smt. Madhumita Roy (Kathak) Shri Kushal Das (Sitar), Pt. Ronu Majumder(Flute), Shri Subhendra Rao(Sitar) Smt. Madhuri Chatterjee (Violene),Prof.Ken Zuckerman(Sarod). Pt. Srikant Bakre, Padma Bhushan Pandit V. G. Jog, Vidusi Sisir Kana Dhar Chowdhury, Ust. Ashish Khan, Vidusi Meera Banerjee, Pt. Manas Chakraborty, Pt. Samaresh Chowdhury, Usd. Maskoor Ali Khan, Shri Tajendra Narayan Majumder, Pt.Tarun Bhattacharya, Pt.Ronu Majumder, Shri Kushal Das. biplab_75@yahoo.com