(muziek-recensie.nl, 9.9.2024)<\/p>\n
\u201cAn alto saxophone is not a common instrument for classical North Indian music. Nevertheless, what the Benares trio with Deobrat Mishra (sitar), Prashant Mishra (tabla) and Roger Hanschel played on Tuesday evening at the Cavete jazz club in Marburg sounds very Indian. Just not really classical, but rather following their own path of rapprochement between advanced Western European jazz and Indian music. The trio has come a long way on this path, after all, it has been around for a decade now. On the other hand, what is a decade compared to the almost half a millennium of music and family tradition that Deobrat Mishra and his nephew Prashant Mishra can look back on?\u00a0 <\/span>What has emerged from this trio, with the virtuosically mastered sound miracle instruments tabla and sitar, with the equally virtuosic and un-European saxophone, sounds like a very unique musical path that audiences on both continents can follow.\u201d <\/i>(Giessener Anzeiger 19.06.2024, Hans-J\u00fcrgen Linke)<\/p>\n \u201c….Roger Hanschel finally set the tone with his alto saxophone. A warm, rich sound and Hanschel’s almost perfect breathing technique drove the pieces forward again and again, lively and elegant, sometimes with powerful paraphrasing, sometimes cleverly slowing down the tempo. The peculiarities of traditional Indian music suddenly no longer seemed exotic, but very contemporary. You could literally feel the representatives of these very different musical traditions throwing the balls at each other out of sheer joy of playing, and with the greatest respect for each other’s cultural background. An approach that also left plenty of room for fast-paced and dense solos. The extended stretches of sound increasingly developed a pull that captivated both the musicians and the audience in the well-filled church. This inspiring blend of world music and jazz was a certain crossing of boundaries, even for the Honrath concerts, which are certainly open to experimentation, but it was very well received. The musicians and their performances were celebrated by the audience.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>(K\u00f6lner Stadtanzeiger, 29.10.19, Markus Peters)<\/p>\n It is a connection that goes to the very core, in which long individual solos find their place as well as virtuoso interplay that constantly fires each other up, carries each other along and always has both in mind without squinting – the Indian sound ideal and the Western jazz idiom. Music that lends itself to contemplation, full of tenderness and poetry, but which does not shy away from the euphoric surge of energy of an irrepressible discharge. \u201c \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>(Jazzzeitung, 10.3.21)<\/p>\n \u201cMore than fusion\u201c \u2018Anyone who thought that after their award-winning album \u2019Assi Ghat\u201d: ‘it doesn’t get any better than this’ will have to rethink. Phrases such as \u201cvirtuosity\u201d and \u201cstupendous instrumental mastery\u201d seem hollow in the face of the overwhelming fireworks of Indian classical music and contemporary jazz that Deobrat Mishra (sitar), Roger Hanschel (alto saxophone) and Prashant Mishra (tabla) – together the \u201cTrio Benares\u201d – unleash on \u201cRajas\u201d. Breathtaking solos, in which Hanschel ignites the turbo and follows the high-speed explorations of the sitar, theme, style and mood changes fired by the tabla, lightning-fast dialog between saxophone and sitar – this is truly exhilarating, far beyond anything that has ever been heard in the field of Indo-jazz or fusion.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(WP, NRZ 20.12.19)<\/p>\n \u201c….Roger Hanschel finally set the tone with his alto saxophone. A warm, rich sound and Hanschel’s almost perfect breathing technique drove the pieces forward again and again, lively and elegant, sometimes with powerful paraphrasing, sometimes cleverly slowing down the tempo. The peculiarities of traditional Indian music suddenly no longer seemed exotic, but very contemporary. You could literally feel the representatives of these very different musical traditions throwing the balls at each other out of sheer joy of playing, and with the greatest respect for each other’s cultural background. An approach that also left plenty of room for fast-paced and dense solos. The extended stretches of sound increasingly developed a pull that captivated both the musicians and the audience in the well-filled church. This inspiring blend of world music and jazz was a certain crossing of boundaries, even for the Honrath concerts, which are certainly open to experimentation, but it was very well received. The musicians and their performances were celebrated by the audience. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(K\u00f6lner Stadtanzeiger, 29.10.19, Markus Peters)<\/p>\n Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik<\/i><\/p>\n \u201cIndian soundscapes combine with jazz. Trio Benares expands this remarkable story with a new, utterly contemporary chapter. In Trio Benares, Roger Hanschel, well-known for his work in the K\u00f6lner Saxophon Mafia and crossover projects of a more Western type, broadens his knowledge of North Indian music at the academy of the award-winning sitar virtuoso Deobrat Mishra. Deobrat\u2019s nephew Prashant Mishra, a young star of the scene, came along with tabla percussion. Together the three have developed an energetic fusion that one has never heard like this before. Hanschel hopes to develop \u2018an original third story\u2019 out of these stylistic forms \u2013 mission accomplished, fully.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>(For the jury: J\u00fcrgen Frey)<\/p>\n \u201cIn his new band, Roger Hanschel seeks an encounter with North Indian classical music. His trio Benares plays with a temperament and a virtuosity that can rip a listener out of his or her seat.<\/i><\/p>\n Lightning fast themes, rousing solos, clever innovations \u2013 we haven\u2019t heard such a convincing Indo-jazz project for a long time.\u201d <\/i>(Hans-J\u00fcrgen Schaal, Jazzthetik, July-August\/2016)<\/p>\n \u201c… the young, well-traveled Indians and the experienced Hanschel display virtuoso playfulness: They slide from the dance-like to the contemplative, break out of the fine beauty of predetermined, vocal topics into a frenzy of self-invention. The way Hanschel takes his lifelong experience of jazz improvisation and respectfully links it with the modal characteristics of the Indian tradition \u2013 this must be called unique.\u201d <\/i>(Ulrich Olshausen, FAZ, May 23, 2016)<\/p>\n \u201cThe Cologne saxophonist Roger Hanschel belongs to this small group of those who do not just scratch the surface, but go into depth in their encounters with Indian musicians. The trio Benares merges Western and Indian, with both sides approaching each other and without abandoning their own identity. Thus, it follows a tradition of Occidental-Indian cooperation by the greats such as the alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano, guitarist John McLaughlin and violinist Yehudi Menuhin.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n (Werner Stiefele, Rondo Magazin, May 20, 2016)<\/p>\n \u201cTogether the three musicians play a high-energy fusion of jazz and Indian music, reminiscent of Shakti as if Mahavishnu McLaughlin played alto saxophone on speed. Accompanied by two Indians who cheer him on. That’s terrific music firmly rooted in the present.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n (Axel Bussmer, Kriminalakte 6\/2016)<\/p>\n \u201c… now, Hanschel takes up this thread. Along with Deobrat Mishra on sitar and Prashant Mishra on tabla, the saxophonist finally directs our attention to the potential of these soundscapes. The reduced cast focuses on Hanschel\u2019s imaginative themes, which he mostly unfolds with the sitar, has dance over the tight tabla background, and then opens up for solo exploration. The long-standing interaction between the two Mishras, uncle and nephew, specifically ensures an at times dense, at others very spartan tonal web. In particular, when the alto saxophone and the sitar come together in common solos, they spark up fireworks of counterpoint.\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>(Thorsten Meyer, Jazz Podium, May 2016)<\/p>\n “The duets of rhythms and tunes made the audiance to dive in the river of music and left them overwhelmed. In a program of europe-India musical evening district cultural commitee, Trio Benares and Navrang the duet concert was presented by young sitarist Deobrat Mishra who has been spread the musical frangrance all over the world and Roger Hanschel of Germany on saxophone who played in surprisingly and presented Kajari and made the people spellbound. Both presented Raag Jog, Garati and Bhairavi and made the people bathed in the showers of Heart touching musical recital.” \u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n (Times of India 27.3.2015)<\/p>\n “Music Lovers in the city were treated to a novel blend of jazz and indian classical music at the Assi Ghat with the musical group Trio Benares where the notes of tabla, saxophone and sitar together created some soulful music. The concert attracted a large audience who enjoyed the music in the open platform on the assi ghat.”\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>(Banares Times, 27.3.2015)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n“Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Bharat Nivas, Pavilion of India in International Zone was crowded with music lovers who longed for something more. Although the title World Music Concert had promised maybe a bit more than a classical Indian music, what we got was a big surprise- an exciting fusion of Western European jazz saxophone with sitar and tabla.
\nThe three excellent musicians brought some freshness and proved that music does speak universal language. Deobrat Mishra on sitar and Prashant Mishra on tabla both from a prominent family of musicians, and Roger Hanschel on alto saxophone known as a versatile jazz player showed that merging two styles can give something new\u2026” \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span><\/i>(Auroville Radio 29.3.2015)<\/p>\n
\nDeobrat Mishra is no doubt one of the most energetic and innovative sitar artists of India. Selectivity, melody and rhythmic complexity are typical features in his lively playing style.
\nBorn in 1976, he represents the 11th generation of the Benares Gharana tradition.
\nAs a young child he studied tabla with his mother, Pramila Mishra, who is the granddaughter
\nof the well -known tabla player Pandit Baiju Mishra of Benares. He started by studying vocal music with his father at the age of five and began his sitar lessons a year later.
\nThat same year, after only six months of studying the sitar, he gave his first public performance
\non stage. Five years later, he performed for the first time on the All India Radio.
\nSince 1994 he has been touring throughout Europe with his father. In the same year he was chosen to receive the award of the best young sitar player of India by Youth Festival.<\/div>\n
\ninclude music workshops, solo performances for radio and television as well as world music programs with Indian and European artists. Moreover, he is the one in charge of cultural events and music lessons provided by the Academy of Indian Classical Music,<\/div>\n
\nHe received a Masters degree in sitar from the Prayag Sangit Samiti in Allahabad.
\nIn 2010 Deobrat Mishra played with Indian musician in Denmark for Global Voices of percussion.
\nMusicians from all over the world performed and Deobrat Mishra represent Indian music in this festival.
\nIn June 12th 2012 Mishras create history of conducting Orchestra of 108 sitar players in Varanasi-
\nIndia. Total musicians where 151 including Tabla and Flute players. Music was created by Pandit Shivnath Mishra.
\nAmong many other projects, the Mishras performed and recorded their music with the Western
\nSymphony Orchestra of Italy in 2005. Nowadays, they fully dedicate their art to similar projects including annual tours around the world.
\nAbove all, the Mishras (father and son) serve as two of India\u2019s leading cultural ambassadors of our times.<\/div>\n
\nPrashant Mishra is one of the best young Tabla player of benaresGharana. When he was five he started to learn tabla with the family member of Biru Mishra of Varanasi also studying Tabla presently with Mr.Chakkan lal Mishra<\/div>\n
\nSoon after few years of hard practice with his grandfather Pandit Shivanath Mishra and
\nuncle Deobrat Mishra he was able to perform with Mishras his skills beautifully compliment and support the Mishras in their concerts and travel around the world with them.
\nIn 2004 he won first prize in Tabla competition organized by Sangeet Natak Academy Uttar Pradesh India.He received many awards for his tabla playing at many different places.<\/div>\n
![\"DSC06454klein72dpi\"](\"http:\/\/rogerhanschel.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/DSC06454klein72dpi.jpg\")
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