Michael Messer's Mitra

Michael Messer - Vocals, slide and lap steel guitar
Manish Pingle - Indian slide guitar (Mohan veena)
Gurdain Rayatt - Tabla

Slide Guitar Workshop! Come and learn about playing slide guitar. Bring an acoustic or resonator guitar - all levels are welcome!

A unique fusion of blues slide guitar, Hindustani slide guitar and tabla rhythms.

Michael Messer's Mitra is a trio comprising British blues innovator and slide guitarist, Michael Messer, Hindustani slide guitar maestro from Mumbai India, Manish Pingle , and London-based tabla player, Gurdain Singh Rayatt.

This is more than another meeting of musicians from different cultures, this is a band with its own unique sound, an exhilarating and highly accessible fusion of blues and Hindustani classical music. With vocals, slide guitars and tabla, these three musicians from opposite sides of the globe create a fascinating musical journey, running from the banks of the Mississippi, via London, to Mumbai and the Ganges Delta.

Mitra is a unique musical trio and a true musical friendship.

"...Not since the Beatles teamed up with Ravi Shankar back in the day has there been such an experimental and inspired meeting of musical cultures. I've no doubt this album is going to be internationally lauded for both its musicianship and Messer's stunning vision". Iain PatienceMusic News USA

Call Of The Blues - #1 in the World Music Network Chart - May 2016

Call Of The Blues - #1 in the World Music Network Chart - April 2016

Call Of The Blues - #10 in the Transglobal World Music Chart - April 2016

Call Of The Blues - Songlines 'Top Of The World' top 10 - April 2016

Call Of The Blues - #1 in the iTunes Blues Chart - February 2016

Call Of The Blues - #1 in the IBBA (Independent Blues Broadcasters) chart - February 2016

Call Of The Blues is one of the top 10 albums on fRoots Playlist - January/February/March 2016

Call Of The Blues was one of Blues Matters magazine's top 10 albums - February 2016

"Call Of The Blues is one of the top albums of 2016 already!!!!" - Kevin Beale Blues On The Marsh - UK

Call Of The Blues - Album of the Week - Acoustic Blues Club - KCOR Kansas City Online Radio - USA

Call Of The Blues - Album of the Week - Gary Grainger's Blues Show - Bishop FM - UK

Call Of The Blues - featured as one of three albums of the month - Chris Heim Global Village Radio - USA

Call Of The Blues - featured as one of three albums of the month - Juan Antonio Vázquez & Araceli Tzigane, Mundofonias - Spain

Call Of The Blues - Album of the Week - André Rhéaume Podcast - Canada

Call Of The Blues - Album of the Week - Elena Wolay Sverige Radio - Sweden

Call Of The Blues - Album of the Week - Lauri 'Arno' Ankerman - Ison Suden Show, Lähiradio - Finland

Call Of The Blues - featured album - Rootsworld Radio, USA

Call Of The Blues - featured album - World Fusion Chicago, USA

Call Of The Blues - featured as one of three albums of the week - Willi Klopottek, Mondophon Auf Radio, Luxembourg

Call Of The Blues - "One of the contenders for my favourite album of 2016" - Matthew Roberts The Convent Stroud

'You Gonna Be Sorry' from 'Call Of The Blues' is featured on 'fROOTS 56' download album "...our pick of the very best new stuff"

"Magnificent Indiean Blues... Call Of The Blues is a remarkable fusion of country blues with Hindustani music, showcasing the splendour of the slide guitar and the talent of three extraordinary musicians". Angel Romero World Music Central

"Best of all is ‘Bhupali Blues’, with Messer’s bottleneck blues tropes blending seamlessly into the structure of a traditional raga as the two guitarists exchange licks with scintillating panache". Nigel Williamson Songlines

"There's nothing I Like more than a meeting of musical minds where you can't hear the joins, and that is absolutely what we've got here. Messer is rare amongst Brit bluesniks, in that he possesses a real feel for the music and yet gives it his own personal stamp". Jamie Renton fRoots