Debashish Bhattacharya, Anders Lønne Grønseth, Kenny Wessel, Subhashis Bhattacharya
About Debashish Bhattacharya, Anders Lønne Grønseth, Kenny Wessel, Subhashis Bhattacharya
Length is a collaborative studio album by Indian slide guitarist and composer Debashish Bhattacharya, Norwegian percussionist Anders Lønne Grønseth, American guitarist Ken Wessel and tabla player Subhashis Bhattacharya. The ensemble released the album on CD through the German label Pling Music in 2016. The recording features six original compositions that blend Hindustani classical traditions with contemporary improvisational approaches.
Debashish Bhattacharya contributed his signature slide guitar techniques on modified instruments, including the chaturangui and ananda. Anders Lønne Grønseth performed on percussion, incorporating frame drums and handpans. Ken Wessel provided electric and acoustic guitar textures, while Subhashis Bhattacharya played tabla and additional percussion. The album’s production emphasized live interplay, with minimal post-production processing.
The tracklist includes Kirwani, a raga-based exploration in the eponymous scale, and Gaoti, a rhythmic piece drawing from folk and classical motifs. Charushree features melodic exchanges between slide guitar and electric guitar, while Bahut Acha adopts a lighter, groove-oriented structure. Lover’s Call - Raag Kafi interprets the Kafi raga with layered improvisations, and Goodnite Irene closes the album with a reflective, blues-inflected composition.
The release date for Length coincided with a series of live performances in Europe and India during 2016, though specific tour documentation remains limited. Pling Music distributed the CD through physical retailers and digital platforms, targeting audiences for world fusion and experimental classical music. No official chart positions or commercial sales figures have been published.
Critical reception focused on the album’s cross-cultural integration, particularly Debashish Bhattacharya’s adaptation of Hindustani raga forms within a jazz-improvisational framework. The absence of liner notes or detailed session credits leaves some production context unspecified, including recording locations and engineering personnel.