I am a professional guitarist and composer based in Kolkata. I was born in India but have spent extended periods of time in Japan, UK, USA and Australia. Before turning to music professionally I studied History and Politics at Oxford University. In Melbourne, I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at Monash University and studied with some of the elite jazz musicians of Australia. I have always had a very strong interest in Indian classical music, largely due to the fact that my mother studied this music and it was often on in the background when I was growing up.

My interest in the music grew in intensity over the years, particularly after doing a three-week winter school with Hindustani slide guitar master, Pt Debashish Bhattacharya. Following that course, I decided that I needed to come and live in India and moved here in 2010. I chose Kolkata because I wanted to study specifically with Guruji and because for instrumental music, Kolkata is undoubtedly one of the best places in India.

I am now a core member of Indo-jazz band Kendraka, and Pt Debashish Bhattacharya's band, Calcutta Chronicles. With these bands I have had the fortune of being able to perform across India and around the world. In May I will be touring the UK with Calcutta Chronicles.

Here are some memorable tunes by Kolkata musicians.

Washing Windows by Neel and the Lightbulbs


Nicely shot, well composed and sincerely delivered.

Dance Acoustica by Amyt Datta


Amyt Datta and Jivraj Singh, two great musicians of the city, experiment with melody, phrasing, texture and form.

Mohona by Kendraka


A snippet of a track from our live album, Live at No Black Tie. In addition to the Kendraka trio of guitar, bass and drums, it features viola and flute. Certainly not easy listening, but it attempts to address our interest in various musical traditions: Indian classical, jazz and 'free' music.