Award of the german records critics

Trio Benares
Deobrat Mishra - sitar
Roger Hanschel - saxophone
Prashant Mishra - tabla

„Charlies Reverberations“ „Trailer Ganges 1“ „Trailer Ganges 2“

https://www.youtube.com/ https://www.youtube.com/ https://youtu.be/RR_eV2SnyRw
watch?v=qwno6WD436Q watch?v=2cGPwd6DOO4

„Highlights concert Mumbai „Extrembiose“

„Kajari“
20.1.17“ http://youtu.be/hzK-ZkmsRzo
http://youtu.be/7Odi8SKArQI
https://youtu.be/YqtHLxJROn0
„Assi Ghat“ „Jog“
https://soundcloud.com/rhanschel/ https://soundcloud.com/rhanschel/
assi-ghat-trio-benares jog-trio-benares
Trio Benares

“Exciting, virtuosic, sensual, beautiful!“

There has been a force of gravity between Indian classical music and jazz for many decades --
the push and pull of improvisation, the exciting rhythmic language. Founded in 2014, the
Trio Benares continues on this path of tradition.
As part of a seventh generation musical family, sitar player Deobrat Mishra has reached a
prominent place amongst his peers. In collaboration with his nephew Prashant Mishra, a
rising star among Indian tabla players, he forms a perfect unit. Roger Hanschel, surely one of
the most extravagant, multifaceted saxophone players and composers of contemporary jazz,
communes with the sensual and brilliant sound of Deobrat Mishra‘s sitar. In turn, Hanschel‘s
rhythmic finesse finds its equivalent in the virtuosic tabla playing of Prashant Mishra.
While steeped in tradition, Trio Benares brings a freshness to both musical styles.

www.trio-benares.com
www.rogerhanschel.de
www.deobratmishra.com
www.facebook.com/TrioBenares
Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
“Indian 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
Kölner 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’s
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 ‘an original third story’ out of these stylistic forms – mission accomplished, fully.”
(For the jury: Jürgen Frey)

“In 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.
Lightning fast themes, rousing solos, clever innovations – we haven’t heard such a convincing Indo-
jazz project for a long time.”
Hans-Jürgen Schaal, Jazzthetik, July-August/2016

“... 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 – this
must be called unique.”
(Ulrich Olshausen, FAZ, May 23, 2016)

“The 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.”
(Werner Stiefele, Rondo Magazin, May 20, 2016)

“Together 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.”
(Axel Bussmer, Kriminalakte, Maiy2016)

“... 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’s 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.”
(Thorsten Meyer, Jazz Podium, May 2016)

„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 pro-
mised 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.
The 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…“
(Auroville Radio 29.3.2015)

„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 surpri-
singly 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.“
(Times of India 27.3.2015)

„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.“
(Banares Times, 27.3.2015)

Deobrat Mishra

Deobrat 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.

Born in 1976, he represents the 11th generation of the Benares Gharana tradition.

As a young child he studied tabla with his mother, Pramila Mishra, who is the granddaugh-
ter of 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.

That same year, after only six months of studying the sitar, he gave his first public perfor-
mance on stage. Five years later, he performed for the first time on the All India Radio.

Since 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.
In 2000 he received the “Jewels of Sound Award”(Sur Mani) in Mumbai. His many pro-
jects include 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, the school he
founded along with his father, Pandit Shivnath Mishra, in 2006.

He received a Masters degree in sitar from the Prayag Sangit Samiti in Allahabad.

In 2010 Deobrat Mishra played with Indian musician in Denmark for Global Voices of percus-
sion. Musicians from all over the world performed and Deobrat Mishra represent Indian music
in this festival.

In June 12th 2012 Mishras create history of conducting Orchestra of 108 sitar players in Vara-
nasi- India. Total musicians where 151 including Tabla and Flute players. Music was created by
Pandit Shivnath Mishra.

Among many other projects, the Mishras performed and recorded their music with the Wes-
tern Symphony Orchestra of Italy in 2005. Nowadays, they fully dedicate their art to similar
projects including annual tours around the world.

Above all, the Mishras (father and son) serve as two of India’s leading cultural ambassadors of
our times.

Prashant Mishra

Prashant 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 (Student of Great Tabla player Anokhelal
Mishra.
Soon after few years of hard practice with his grandfather Pandit Shivanath Mishra and
uncle 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.

In 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.
ROGER HANSCHEL

After beginning his musical education at a young age, Roger Hanschel then began to play
the saxophone at the age of 11. Early on he developed a fascination for jazz and improvised
music and at 14 founded his first group in which he was able to realize his musical visions.

From 1981 to 1987 he studied saxophone at the music academy in Cologne, Germany. At this
point, original composition became a major emphasis in his work, along with performing on
the saxophone. There he founded the group NANA in 1983 with Hans Lüdemann (piano),
Rainer Linke (bass), and Klaus Mages (drums) working extensively with them until 1988.
From NANA the group BLAU FRONTAL emerged. This group published 2 CDs between
1989 and 1993, one a trio and one in cooperation with Mark Feldmann and Hank Roberts.

In 1986 he studied at the “School for Fine Arts” in Banff, Canada with Dave Liebmann, Dave
Holland, Richie Beirach, and others.

Hanschel is a member of the KÖLNER SAXOPHON MAFIA since 1987. The ensemble
has received four German Record Prizes as well as the SWR
(Southern German Radio) Jazz Prize in 1999.

In 1994 Hanschel founded the group PLANET BLOW along with Lu Hübsch (tuba) and
Jörn Schipper (drums) with whom he toured intensively until 1999. Two CDs record this
work. After a tour of India, PLANET BLOW played numerous concerts with the Asian-Indian
singer SANDHYA SANJANA. He frequently collaborated with singer GABRIELE HAS-
LER, and regularly performed live with her. They recorded 5 CDs together and were the
recipients of the Ensemble-competition „Jazz Arts 2003“ prize (Germany).

From 1994 to 1998 he performed in a duo with the Dutch cellist ERNST REIJSEGER.

He became a member of the STEFFEN SCHORN SEPTET in 1998 and is now performs
with Schorn‘s UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES.

In 1999 and 2003 he played in the KLAUS KÖNIG ORCHESTRA.

In January 1998 he presented his music for saxophone and string quartet with the title
“years of the fifth period.” For this project he collaborated with the FRANKFURT CON-
TEMPORARY QUARTET, the string section of the ENSEMBLE MODERN. A CD of the
same name was released in January 2000.
He also performed “years of the fifth period” with the AURYN QUARTET while on a
three-week tour of South America under the auspices of the Goethe Institute in September
2001.

In 2000, along with Steffen Schorn and Dirk Mündelein, he founded TRIOSPHERE, which
released their first CD in 2004 (winner of the German Record Critics‘ Prize). Triosphere won
the Ensemble-competition „Jazz Arts 2003,“ the same year his duo with Hasler won a prize.

In addition Hanschel is frequently called upon for cross-culture collaborations: in a trio with
Stefan Heidtmann (keyboards) and Klaus Kugel (drums, percussion) Hanschel participated
in new music/film production called ORNAMENTS OF LIGHT AND SOUND (with Ruth
Hommelsheim, film; video art)

In 2006 he founded the quartet ROGER HANSCHELS HEAVY ROTATION (with Markus
Segschneider, Dietmar Fuhr, and Daniel Schröteler (currently Bodek Janke)).

Since 2007 he has been performing SOLO CONCERTS throughout Europe and released
his first complete solo CD in March 2011.

He has most recently collaborated as a soloist with the NORWEGIAN WIND

ENSEMBLE, the NDR BIG BAND (Germany), and GOTLAND MUSIKEN (Sweden) and
ZÜRICH JAZZORCHESTRA. In 2015 he has collaborated with the ORQUESTRA
DE CAMATA THEATRO SAO PEDRO (Porto Alegre) playing his music.

In 2014 he produced his music „Niederschlagsmengen“ together with the

AURYN QUARTETT. He also founded in this year the TRIO BENARES (Deobrat Mishra -
Sitar, Prashant Mishra - Tabla)

Since 2010 he teaches saxophone at the Musikhochschule in Cologne.

ACTUAL ENSEMBLES / PROJECTS:

Roger Hanschels Heavy Rotation
Roger Hanschel & Auryn Quartett
Roger Hanschel & Stefan Horz
Trio Benares
Roger Hanschel SOLO
Steffen Schorns Universe of Possibilities
Steffen Schorn Septett
Eva Mayerhofer Sound Sleep
Kölner Saxophon Mafia
Discographie:
NANA
„Über Leben“, JazzHausMusik 1984
„Schwarze NANA“ JHM 1985
KÖLNER SAXOPHON MAFIA
„Baboma“, JHM CD 33, 1988
„Saxfiguren“, JHM CD 36, 1989
„proudly presents“, JHM CD 46, 1990 Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
„Mafia Years 82-86“, JHM CD 58, 1991
„go commercial“, JHM CD 65, 1993
„place for lovers“, JHM CD 82, 1996 Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
„licence to thrill“, JHM CD 100, 1999
„20 Jahre saxuelle Befreiung“, JHM 115, 2001
„spaceplayer“, JHM 130, 2004 Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
„Nur nicht aus Liebe weinen“. JHM 160, 2008
Roger Hanschel SOLO
„Stadtgarten series Vol. 1“JHM 1001 SER, 1989
„Karmic Episode“. 50038 JS, 2011
BLAU FRONTAL
„blau frontal“, JHM CD 37, 1989
„bad times roll“, JHM CD 61, 1993 mit MARK FELDMAN und HANK ROBERTS
„Stadtgarten series Vol. 5“ JHM 1005 SER, 1991
PLANET BLOW
„Alien lunatic“, JHM CD 71, 1995
„chill“ , JHM CD 87, 1997
DUO HASLER HANSCHEL
„go in green“, JHM CD 73, 1995
„pigeon“, JHM CD 120, 2002
„Lovesongs“ FM 211003, 2003
„frösche und teebeutel“ mit Oskar Pastior, Foolish Music 211006, 2006
„CantaRhei“, Foolish Music 211 007, 2007
ROGER HANSCHEL & FRANKFURT CONTEMPORARY QUARTET
„years of the fifth period“ VIRGIN CLASSICS 2000
KLAUS KÖNIG ORCHESTRA
„Songs and Solos“ ENJ-9391 2, 2000
„Black Moments“ENJ-9428 2, 2002
ORNAMENTS OF LIGHT AND SOUND
„Ornaments of light and sound“ shaa-music 1011-0602, 2002
„Cathedrals“ shaa-music 1015-0403,2003
TRIOSPHERE
„Triosphere“, Jazz’n’Arts Records 2304, 2004 Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
ROGER HANSCHELS HEAVY ROTATION
„Heavy Rotation“, Shaa music, 1019-0607, 2007
„Vin“, Jazzsick Records 5032 JS, 2010
STYR
„Styr“, Foolish Music 211 008, 2008
STEFFEN SCHORN UNIVERSE OF POSSIBILITIES
„Universe of Possibilities“, Jazzsick records 5044, 2011
ROGER HANSCHEL & AURYN QUARTETT
„Niederschlagsmengen“, tacet 211, 2014 Nominiiert für den Jahrespreis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik
NORWEGIAN WIND ENSEMBLE feat. Roger Hanschel
Music by Steffen Schorn
„TiefenträumeNorwind records nwd 131, 2013
STEFFEN SCHORN SEPTETT
„Tiefenträume“, pure audio records PAR55027, 2015
TRIO BENARES
„Assi Ghat“, Jazzsick Records, 5092 JS, 2016 Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik