Raga Ahir Bhairav

Debashis Bhattacharya plays the slide guitar with brilliant and innovative technique. Debashis learned from Brijbhusan Kabra, the 'father of the Indian slide guitar', and from Patiala-style vocalist Ajoy Chakrabarty. His renderings combine the profundity of Kabra's Maihar-style with Patiala-style vocalism and ornamentation. Debashis presents the early-morning raga, Ahir Bhairav, which combines elements of the serious raga Bhairav with the romance and sorrow of Ahiri folk melodies. Debashis concludes with a bittersweet thumri in raga Bhairavi.