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Konarak Reddy |
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Konarak Reddy is renowned for his finger-style playing, as well as for integrating Hindustani and Carnatic styles of improvisation into his guitar technique. He has been performing and innovating in India and abroad since the early 70’s.
Konarak first studied western classical theory on guitar, and then became proficient on the North India classical instrument – sarod, that he studied with Gurus Debi Prasad Ghosh and Rajeev Taranath. His much talked about pulling technique on guitar and his beautiful alaaps come from his skill on the sarod. He went on to study jazz improvisation at Berklee College of Music and graduated with Honours from the Guitar Performance program at Musician's Institute, Hollywood. His teachers have included such great guitarists as Joe Diorio, Scott Henderson and Peter Sprague. A somewhat surprising fact about Konarak – he is an amazing rhythm guitarist with a wrist and technique that has gathered him a large rock following in India.
His has performed and toured with a range of musicians including Claus Boesser-Ferrari, Jacques Stotzem, Peter Finger, Dr.L.Subramaniam, Dylan Fowler, Teja Gerken, George Laval, Maynard Fergusson, Embryo, Orexis, T.A.S.Mani and Rama Mani, Flute Ramani, Rajeev Devasthali, Debi Prasad Ghosh, Vemu Mukunda, Shanti Rao, Neela Ramanujam, Afro-Brazil, Lady Dee and Banda Esmeralda amongst others.
Plans for the future include starting an International Artist’s Residency Program in India
RECENT TOURS: 2007 - Tour with Dr L.Subramaniam ( Delhi & Calcutta) 2006 - Concerts with Claus Boesser-Ferrari And Jacques Stotzem (Germany)2006 - Concerts with Dylan Fowler (Wales & Osnabruck) 2006 - Theatre/Music Residency at Trestle Theatre (St. Albans, England) 2005 - International Guitar Nights Tour (Germany) 2004 – Finalist at Open Strings Guitar Festival, Osnabruck 2004 – Konarak Reddy & Peter Finger – Finger Magic Tour of India 2005 – International Guitar Nights Tour in Germany with Peter Finger, Dylan Thomas and Teja Gerken 2005 - Lakshminaryana Global World Music Concert Tour of Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai with Dr. L Subramaniam, Stanley Clarke, George Duke and Earl Klugh 2005 - Reunion Island Concert with Dr. L. Subramaniam 2005 – Konarak Reddy on tour in Poland. Guitar/Tabla duet with Ravi Srinivas (Berlin) 2005 – TAITH Concert Tour of India with Dylan Fowler
RECENT PRESS:
“A small gathering in a living room and some INCREDIBLE music. The ten tunes played whether they were haunting or tranquil or exuberant seemed to bring with them a magic all their own. And that says Konarak Reddy is what Searching for the Goddess is all about.” - Asian Age, 20th December ‘99
“All nine tunes were polyphonic, syncopated and characterized by solo virtuosic improvisation….The opening, alaap based “Sneha” was magnificent for it’s harmonics...Lyricism was emulated with great faith in “My Lady of Supramental Minds...Konarak was exceptional for his sense of shruthi...”The Hindu, Dec 24th ‘99
“Konarak’s exquisite finger-style technique creates an ambience of textured notes…” Music on the Web
“In all the cacophony of commercial music, there are some who seek the truly spiritual aspect of the medium. Konarak Reddy is one of them.” - The Hindu, 6th Oct ‘04
“Der Romantiker, der Techniker und der Moderne….Claus Boesser-Ferrari, Konarak Reddy und Jaques Stotzem….” – Hockenheim Anzeiger Monday 20th November 2006 |
