Sandip Bhattacharya was born in a traditional Brahmin family in Benaras, one of north India's most cultural and holy city, where he grew up in a musical as well as a cultural and traditional environment and followed, from a very tender age, his mother and father, (both are singers) by singing and playing tabla and harmonium.
From childhood he got in close contact with many great maestros of Indian classical music and at the age of 9 he became a 'Ganda bandh Shisya' of Pt. Ishwar lal Mishra, tabla maestro in the lineage of Pt. Anokhe lal Mishra of BENARAS GHARANA and learned from him for 15 years. Later he studied the Farukhabad and Ajrara style of Tabla playing from Pt. Aravind Mulgaonkar, a senior disciple of Ust. Ahmedjaan Thirakuwa and Ust. Ameer Hussain khan.
Based in Amsterdam, since 1988, over the years he became highly in demand as Europe's one of the best tablaplayer. His style is energetic and exiting and it's a pleasure to watch his performance whether it's a solo concert or together with some of India's greatest maestros of classical music. His concerts and recordings include performances with Pt. V.G. Jog, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia (with whom he performs quite regularly since last 15 years) Ust. Shahid Parvez, Ust. Shujaat Hussain Khan, Pt. Ashok Pathak, Pt. Buddhadev Dasgupta, Pt. Tarun Bhattacharya, Prabha Atre, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Shruti Sadolikar and many others.
Beside his Tabla solo CD's he has commercial recordings with many of the above mentioned artists.
Sandip's love for other cultures and their music, have resulted in great contacts with musicians of the highest standards in World Ethno, Fusion and Contemporary Jazz, such as Eric Vloeimans, Wolter Wierbos , Ernst Reijsiger, Jan Kuiper, Eric Vaarzon Morel, Monica Akihari, Niels Brouwer, Eric Huele, Pieter de Mast, Mark Alban Lotz, Tjitze Vogel, Oene van geel, Nippy Noya, Najeeb Cheradi, Kamal Hors, Doudou N'Diaye Rose, Ali N'Diaye Rose, Mola Syla, Mari Boine, Yamasita Yosuke, Umezu Kazutoki and Leonardo Eto.
Sandip has blend his knowledge of Indian music and rhythm with other musical styles in such an exciting, innovative and creative way that it appeals instantly to the audience. Some of the international top festivals where he performed are : Montreux Jazz Festival in Switserland, Northsea Jazz Festival in Holland, Moers Jazz Festival in Germany, Jerash Festival in Jordan, Sfinks Festival in Belgium, Euro-Asia festival in Japan, Bethlehem Music Festival in USA etc.
He performed with prestigious Scapino ballet 95, 96, more then 70 shows in all over Holland/Germany/Belgium, on their completion of 50 years.
Sandip teamed up with several groups like Weshm, World Groove project, Jungle Warriors, Chanchala, Boi akih and Trio Windstreken and has his own groups "Synergy Cross Culture" and "Synergy World Rhythm".
Sandip is an excellent singer and composer. He composes and sings his songs with his soothing voice and has collaborated with many world music singers of different cultures.
Last, but not least, he's a well known and loved teacher, who has many students and disciples not only in Europe but in India, Japan and America as well. They come from many different cultures and are making their own marks in the world of music. He regularly gives master classes in several Conservatories in Holland, Germany, Belgium, Japan, India and America and since many years he is a member of the board of Judges for exam of Indian classical music in the Rotterdam Conservatory.
Visit Sandip's website : www.sandip-tabla.com / www.sandip-synergygroup.com
