Bhrigu Sahni to spin magic with his finger-style guitar at a gig in Mumbai

Bhrigu Sahni

For those who don't know about Bhrigu Sahni's style of guitar playing, don't let that deter you from attending. The Berkley School of Music graduate employs the finger-style technique, where notes are played by hitting or plucking the string directly on the fret board. His use of alternate tunings and flamenco techniques (finger tapping on a tapping plate or golpeador to support the typical flamenco rhythms) has earned him a chance to perform with the likes of Meshell Ndgeocello, Karsh Kale, Angelique Kidjo and Timothy Lefebvre at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Blue Note Jazz Club (NYC) and the Lincoln Center Outdoors Festival. And now, Sahni is set to perform in the city on May 19.

This time around, Sahni will play with his newly formed band comprising drummer Dhir Mody and bass player Nathan Thomas. "We blend virtuosic finger-style music with drum 'n' bass rhythms," he says. The band's India tour wil start with Mumbai.

Sahni also hopes to use this platform to showcase the singer in him. "I'm in a transition period where I'm exploring the songwriter-singer in me. You'll get to experience more of that in my debut album," he says. The inspiration for it, he says, has come from the humdrum of daily life. "The people you meet and the conversations you have also find form in your music," he says.

The act will also see Shadow and Light, the two-member group from Delhi perform alongside Sahni. Comprising vocalist Pavithra Chari and Advaita's keyboardist Anindo Bose, the duo uses electronica, jazz and Hindustani classical music. "We will be playing originals that showcase about 12 songs from our two albums."This will be the first time that Sahni and Shadow and Light will share stage.

Where: Zeba Centre, Mathuradas Mill Compound, Sitaram Jadhav Marg, Lower Parel
When: May 19, 9.30 PM
Call: 61586158