Saraswati

Vatsal Dave, based in Dallas, Texas is a musician dedicated to the tradition of North Indian classical music, often referred to as the Hindustani music. Vatsal spent his early years learning Hindustani classical and listening to various genre of music. It was during the freshman years of his engineering studies, he embraced the sitar as his main expression for music-- under the tutelage of Ghulam Rasul Khan (disciple of Ustad Rais Khan), an All India Radio artist from Ahmedabad, India.

The formative years of his music journey (sitar-yatra), began under the guidance of his revered guru, his idol and inspiration- Pt. Budhaditya Mukherjee. Proponent of the gayaki style (vocalization of sound) of sitar playing and one of the leading exponents of the famous Imdadkhani gharana, Pt. Mukherjee is renowned for his virtuosity and has received international acclaim. He is heralded as the guiding path for the next generation of up and coming sitarists. Mr. Mukherjee took him under his wings in the late 90s-- a path laden with disciplined training, uncompromising routines and relentless practice. Vatsal studied with him at the Rotterdam world music conservatory in Holland for a few years and continues to visit him in Kolkata, India, to seek further guidance.

Vatsal an IT consultant, is a musician who serves as a performer and a teacher of this ancient tradition of classical music. He has devised English-friendly music notation system which enhances the understanding of the inherently oral tradition of Indian classical music. Vatsal has been performing in various festivals in the US and India, and has been imparting teachings to many aspiring students for over past 15 years. Over the years, Vatsal has published several albums including, 'Lone Star Sitar' – a world music fusion album, in collaboration with a Grammy award winner musician Art Greenhaw, which is available for downloads on iTunes and Amazon.