In the first ever initiative of an internationally known sarodist taking turns to percussion to recreate a magic generic 'jugalbandi', classicist Debojyoti Bose blends the strains with the beats, earning plaudits from the classical doyens.
"Tony (Debojyoti) has rightly predicted this album Master's Stroke' is meant for the next generation of music lovers," Debojyoti's long time friend and celebrated percussionist Bickram Ghosh said.
He has set new milestones by composing tabla beats despite the stringed instrument known as his strong point," Bickram said.
"If multi-gifted personalities like Debojyoti makes foray into tabla from sarod regularly this way, what will happen to people like us!", Bickram said in jest.
"After breaking away from typical 'taal' concept during our jugalbandi in last 30 years, we are now set to present another fusion show - me and Bickram - in next November, Debojyoti said.
The sonorous, crystal sound of the 70s records when stereos would reproduce each and every syllable is gone and with this had come cds which also start having scratch sooner, Bickram recalled, "And now with music available on mobiles and people not even using headphones to listen to even pure instrumentals like sarod may God save,"Bickram said.
"With music listening experience almost equated with junkfood, we need to differentiate between true contemporary music with original classical contours and other music," he said.
Suvojit Roy of Girona Entertainment, having cut the album 'The Master's Stroke', said "The death of music is a misnomer as in past few months Bengali music had takers in 110 countries in digital form.
If the content is good, there will be demand and Debajyoti needs no introduction.
"Charting out his other plans, Debojyoti said, there will be reproduction of Tagore works in a symphony format later this year.
"There will be Soprano singer from Australia as the presentation will have references to our folk and other forms of music," "Sarod will continue to be my companion till the last day," Debojyoti said.
"It is a listener's delight. I had known Tony for long. The solo jugalbandi will create history," singer Haimanti Shukla said.
The album, described as a defining moment in the annals of contemporary, classical genres of music by a forward looking classicist, by vocalist Pt Ajay Chakraborty was also praised by Pt Shankar Ghosh.
The formidable percussionist said the impeccable tabla beats merged with sarod and set up a new solo gharana.
