Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
Creator of the Mohan Veena and winner of a Grammy Award in 1994
with Ry Cooder for their world music album, A Meeting by the River, Vishwa Mohan
has mesmerised the world with his prestine pure, delicate yet fiery music. His
faultless legato, his natural ability to play the Tantrakari Ang and incorporate
the Gayaki Ang on the Mohan Veena have made him one of the most expressive and
versatile slide guitar players of our time.
Being a disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar , Vishwa Mohan
belongs to that elite body of musicians which can trace its origins to Tansen
and his guru, the Hindu mystic Swami Haridas.
Viahwa Mohan has collaborated with musicians all over the
world including Chinese erhu player Jei Bing Chen, American dobro player Jerry
Douglas, American country music singer Taj Mahal and Arabian oudh player Simon
Shaheen.
Vishwa Mohan "V.M." Bhatt is one of India's most innovative
musicians. The inventor of the Mohan Veena, a nineteen string modified archtop
guitar with three melody strings, four drone strings and twelve sympathetic
strings, Bhatt has created a sound that blends the western Hawaiian guitar with
sitar, sarod and veena techniques.
The first Indian musician to be awarded the "Musical Scientist
award" in Banglore, India, Bhatt was praised by "Acoustic Guitar" magazine as
"one of the greatest and mosty expressive slide players in the world". The
"Edmonton Journal" referred to Bhatt as "an inspiration even to Western
guitarists".
A long time student of Ravi Shankar, Bhatt belongs to an elite
group of musicians whose imeage traces back to Mughal emperor Akbar's court
musician Tansen and his Hindu guru, Swarmi Haridas. In addition to six solo
albums, Bhatt has recorded with Ry Cooder, Bela Fleck, Jerry Douglas, Taj Mahal
and Arabian oudh player Simon Shaheen.
Bhatt became the first Indian to collaborate with a Chinese
musician when he toured with Erhu player Jei Bing Chen. Bhatt's collaboration
with Ry Cooder, "A Meeting By The River" received a Grammy award in 1994. His
collaboration with Bela Fleck and Jei Bing Chen, "Tabula Rosa", recorded in a
Santa Barbara, California church in October 1994, was nominated for a Grammy.
Tunes from "A Meeting By The River" and "Mumtaz Mahal", recorded
with Taj Mahal, were featured on the soundtracks of films, "Two Days In The
Valley" and the Oscar award-winning, "Dead Man Walking". Bhatt is a skilled
composer. His composition, "Raga Ganga", was performed during celebration of
India's fiftieth year of independance. -- Craig Harris, All Music Guide
