Blackstratblues

Infobox musical artist
Name = Blackstratblues


Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Warren Mendonsa
Born = birth date and age|1979|9|12 Bombay, India
Instrument = Guitar Bass Guitar Fretless Bass Drum Programming Keyboards Software Synthesizers
Genre = Blues Instrumental Guitar Rock Rock & Roll Pop rock
Occupation = Musician
Songwriter Guitarist Sound Engineer
Years_active = 1998 – present
Label = Unsigned
Associated_acts = Zero 3 Guys & A Girl
URL = [http://www.blackstratblues.com Official Website]
Notable_instruments = Fender Stratocaster

Blackstratblues (born Warren Mendonsa on September 12, 1979 in Bombay, India) is a guitarist, composer, and record producer.

Biography and playing history

Early Years: Late 1990s

After picking up the guitar at the age of 15, Warren would go on to play rhythm guitar in a few local bands with friends Siddharth Coutto (drums), & Girish 'Bobby' Talwar (rhythm guitar, bass). Sometime around 1997-98, they would form Zero, with Rajeev Talwar on vocals.

With Zero: 1998-2005

Over the years, Zero grew to enjoy nationwide popularity in India. With Warren, Zero released 2 albums & an EP - "Albummed" (1999), "Hook" EP (2002), & "Procrastination" (2005).

Besides his work in Zero, Warren recorded & released numerous instrumentals - "Christmas In July", "Spitleaf", & "Evil", to name a few popular songs - which enjoyed some fame on online music forums like [http://www.gigpad.com Gigpad] , & [http://www.harmony-central.com Harmony Central] . He was also involved in many online collaborations with musicians - most notably Adam Martin, Ed DeGenaro, & Zorran Mendonsa - which resulted in a few songs. In late 2004, Warren moved to Auckland, New Zealand, thereby quitting Zero.

During this period, he was also a highly sought-after recording engineer & session guitarist in Bombay, having worked on various film soundtracks, ad jingles, & other albums.

2005-2007

After moving to Auckland, Warren began work on solo instrumental material. While visiting India, he reunited with Zero for a few gigs, most notably at the Great Indian Rock Festival 2006.

Nights In Shining Karma

Blackstratblues' debut album, Nights In Shining Karma was released on 18 April 2007 as a free digital-only download.

The album garnered significant appreciation & fame on online music forums. [Citation
title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
date =2007-04-20
url=http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1607446] [Citation
title =Petrucci Forum
date =2007-04-21
url=http://www.petrucciforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46117] [Citation
first =Larry
title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
date =2007-04-20
url=http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=9da6649f5a3dc5af06b89adf652148cc&p=22158908#post22158908]

cquote|In contrast to most instrumental guitar albums, Nights In Shining Karma travels effortlessly between melodic, ethereal and beautiful mood pieces and rocking, up-tempo numbers. Warren Mendonsa navigates through this varying musical landscape with a sure hand and impeccable musical instincts, creating an album both guitarists and casual listeners will find alternately touching, uplifting and energizing.

Eschewing the gymnastic stunts of many high profile solo guitar artists, Mendonsa's stunning technique weaves itself subtly into the musical tapestry of completely realized songs, rather than mere vehicles for a vulgar display of ability.

With golden tones and unassailable taste and touch, Mendonsa echoes Gilmour and Johnson without being derivative of either.

Nights In Shining Karma is surely the 'I'm here!' album from an emerging master.

Musical Influences & Playing Style

He is known for his instantly recognizable, distinctive guitar sound & playing, incorporating immaculate phrasing and abandoning traditional, flashy "guitar hero" techniques, in favor of composing memorable melodies and playing with feel. [Citation
title =Gigpad
date =2004-08-30
url=http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45] [Citation
title =Harmony Central Acapella Forum
date =2007-04-20
url=http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showpost.php?p=22158908&postcount=87]

Equipment used

Guitars

* 1997 Fender Lone Star Stratocaster, equipped with a Seymour Duncan SH-AH1 Allan Holdsworth Humbucker in the bridge position
*Epiphone Les Paul Rio Grande Texas-BBQ Humbuckers)
* 1997 Fender Standard Stratocaster (in Sunburst)

Pedals & Effects

Arion SCH-1 Lovepedal Magicboy Vibe BJFE Sea Blue EQ RMC Wizard Wah
MXR Phase 90 Xotic BB Preamp Xotic RC Booster Handmade Octavia Clone
Lexicon MPX-1
Gibson Echoplex Digital Pro Suhr Guitars MiniMix Suhr Guitars Iso Line-Out Box Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus

Amplifier Heads

Marshall JMP 2204 50W
Suhr Guitars Badger 18

Cabinets

Suhr Guitars Badger 1x12 Extension Cabinet (Celestion Vintage 30) Matamp 2x12 (Celestion Vintage 30's)
Marshall 1936 2x12 (Celestion G12-65's)

Discography

olo Albums

* "Nights In Shining Karma" (2007)

With Zero

External links

* [http://www.blackstratblues.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/blackstratblues Myspace]
* [http://www.soundclick.com/blackstratblues Soundclick]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Blackstratblues Last.fm]
* [http://www.divshare.com/download/2895281-940 Downloads]

Notes & References

Further reading

* [http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=knowmumbai&section=Leisure&sectname=Leisure&subpage=article&sectid=20&contentid=20070601215816313b4714a8&pageno=1 Interview] , "Mumbai Mirror", 2007-06-01
* [http://www.gigpad.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=45 Interview] , "Gigpad", 2004-08-30
* [http://split-magazine.com/2007/05/07/blackstratblues-nights-in-shining-karma Nights In Shining Karma Review] , "Split Magazine", 2007-05-07
* [http://riffcafe.blogspot.com/2007/05/nights-in-shining-karma.html Nights In Shining Karma Review] , "Riff Cafe", 2007-05-17
* [http://hypnos-reviews.tripod.com/hypnosreviews/id165.html Interview] , "Hypnos Reviews", 2003
* [http://split-magazine.com/2007/12/04/zero-procrastination/ Procrastination Review] , "Split Magazine", 2007-12-04