MINNEAPOLIS: Grammy Award Winner Vishwa Moahn Bhatt charmed Minnesotans again while performing under the aegis of Chinmaya Mission Twin Cities (CMTC) at Meeting by the Lakes recently.Over 100 Americans and Indian Americans came to meet by the lakes and were completely drenched in the stream of flowing music performed by Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Andrew York and the Minnesota guitarist James Anton along with the percussionist Subroata Bhattacharya.During the first half of the show VM Bhatt, Subrata Bhattacharya, and guest appearance Salil Bhatt (son of VM Bhatt) performed a classical Indian composition named Maro Bihar.

During intermission CDs were made available for purchase of the artists performing that evening along with the option of looking at beautifully crafted art work by Minu Shukla a visiting artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Some proceeds of the artwork being sold that evening was being donated to CTMC for their cause. In the second half, VM Bhatt in collaboration with Andrew York, James Anton, and Subroata Bhattacharya made the show come alive their melancholy sounds adding to one of VM Bhatt's old composition.

The evening ended by the children of the community giving gifts to the artists along with a request for VIP ticket holders to go to the second floor of the venue for a special meet and greet with the artists.CMTC, a non-profit organization with a mission to spread the sublime knowledge of Vedanta, re-invigorating Indian culture and doing extensive social service, has been in existence for the last five years. For past two years, CMTC has been working with Grammy Award Winning musician Vishwa Mohan Bhatt Grammy to do a concert in the twin cities. VM's last visit to Minneapolis was in February 2007 when he performed at the International Guitar Night (Cedar Cultural Center) where the idea of Meeting by the Lakes was finalized.

Ashlesha Madhok, president of CMTC and Manu Madhok Board member and chairperson, were in-charge of organizing this event. Here are some excerpts of the Vishwa Mohan Bhatt interview:

IP: What inspired you to make your own instrument?
VMB: I was looking for a different kind of sound which could have everything sitar, sarod and veena which could provide very expressive, very tender, very aggressive and loud sounds at times. This is how I Indianized it in my own manner and made my dream come true.

IP: What is it like winning a Grammy award?
VMB: When any awards comes to an artist, it is so exciting, so encouraging and gives you deep inspiration. It inspires you to do something more which is to go above and beyond.

IP: What can you say about your guru Ravi Shankar?
VMB: He is a fantastic musician, very good in organization. I have learnt so many things from him, including delicate intricacies of Indian classical music as well as how to be organized in your real life.

IP: Were you fond of the Hawaiian guitar before you Indianized it?
VMB: It came suddenly to me. A lady from Germany came to teach at our institute and my father, who was also a teacher, asked her to leave the guitar behind. That is how it entered my home and I started experimenting with it.

IP: What was it like collaborating music with such artists as Andrew York, James Anton, Suborata Bhattacharya?
VMB: It was a wonderful to have fused with TajMahl, Ray Cooder, (won the Grammy award) Jerry Douglas, David Belog and most recently with Eric Clapton as I was invited to perform in his Cross Ford Guitar Festival. It gives you a good dimension to help the fusion of music.

IP: What type of message do you want to send to the audience when doing such charity concert?
VMB: We organize and promote good things. Things like how to transform your heart and make a better human being with a better heart.