Deep Singh, Jagjeet Sroay, and Joshua Stanton
Joshua Stanton is one of Canada’s most dynamic contemporary sitarists. Having studied with legendary ImdadKhani Gharana Ustad Irshad Khan, the nation’s preëminent sitar mæstro, he is also a multi-instrumental recording artist & producer; a fine artist, designer, and filmmaker. Stanton’s Chaplinesque alter-ego, the skiffle-singing tramp Poor Andy, has become a fixture at many Winnipeg events.
Joshua’s invention, the dobro vina, realizes Indian classical guitar for the lead guitarist, being a fretted, upright instrument rather than a lap-slider. He has constantly refined his self-constructed prototype since its origins in 1993. More than just a guitar with sympathetic strings, dobro vina includes the defining features of all classical vinas -- distinct melody, bass, and rhythm strings. Capably rendering the gayaki-ang (vocal style) with its scalloped frets; with chikaris, jawari, and unwound bronze jod and larja strings in counterpulse -- yet fretted and plucked like an electric guitar -- the dobro vina presents a true common point for Indian and Western instruments.
For a closer look, please see MyPics "Dobro Vina" album
the Dobro Vina
Mr. Stanton has had a long and varied career on the Winnipeg music scene, having played as a guest-soloist with progressive favourites Skingerbreadman, the Hummers, and Querkus; collaborated with the klezmer ensemble Finjan, ghazal-vocalist / producer Sudhir Narain, the Mini Mariachi, and cellist Yuri Hooker; sampled for Sunil "Ishq" Bector, played the bass for Guyanese legend Devindra Pooran, scored short films including Shannon Ottarson’s The Keys (starring the inimitable Ryan Black) and performed as a member of the Ragpickers / Element Sircus collective. He, along with "vintage" icon Kristen Andrews and video-artist Bryan Besant, is a founding member of the film-group triOOMPH Productions.
Joshua has maintained an extensive creative relationship with kathak legend Usha Sharma and Manohar Performing Arts of Canada, one of the country’s premiere Indian classical dance troupes (with whom he appeared in Guy Maddin’s The Saddest Music in the World), recently art-directing & co-producing, along with filmmakers Ambient Empire Inc., their groundbreaking dance-film Jewels.
Aarti Pole in Manohar’s Jewels · scenic art by Joshua Stanton
Stanton’s efforts at reviving the seminal but largely-forgotten genres of British skiffle music and the Chaplinesque have produced the soon-to-be-released album Poor Andy’s Dog & Pony Show and the one-take silent comedies Better Bunk and The Wedding Ball (featured at the 2008 Toronto Images Festival), eking a place for these lost arts in the 21st Century.
"Y’mean ME?!?" · Poor Andy in The Wedding Ball
Mr. Stanton remains among the last of the classically-trained pen-and-ink typographer / illustrators, and ranks among his achievments Heartland Associates’ Dancing Backwards and his countless posters, ads, and graphics for Ragpickers Antifashion Emporium.
For a closer look, please see MyPics "Artworks" album
Wolfgang Mozart for Heartland Associates
For biography, songs, portfolio, CD orders, and contact / booking information, please visit joshuastanton.com -- your EXCLUSIVE SOURCE for Joshua Stanton CDs. Songs are also available as Podcasts at iTunes!
Poor Andy has a MySpace-page! Please visit myspace.com/poorandysdogandponyshow for all your skiffle favourites.