Krishna Prasad (Harry Manx) - Beloved One (2018)

This refreshing and lively ‘devotional blues’ album blends the elements of blues with subtle flavours of classical Indian raga. Krishna Prasad is truly a soulful musician whose sublime, heart-stirring singing and musicianship on slide guitar, banjo and mohan veena is supported by masterful keyboards and harmonica, as well as vocals and handpan from Mooji Sangha. Moojibaba’s presence and poetic spoken words on two songs breathe a profound depth into this album which effortlessly brings you to rest in the heart of love.

Prasad (Harry Manx) was born on the Isle of Man, immigrated to Canada as a child, returned to Europe in the late seventies to spend many years working festivals as a blues lap-slide guitarist/songwriter. He then moved moved to Japan where he lived and performed for ten years.

In 1990, while Prasad was in Japan, he came across a recording of the Indian slide guitarist Vishwa Mohan Bhatt. It wasn't long before he contacted Bhatt and made arrangements to join him in India. Prasad became a student of Bhatt's and remained with him for five years. They traveled together in India and performed before large audiences.

In spring of 2000, Prasad moved back to Canada and set up residence in Saltspring Island, British Columbia. During the summer he recorded his first Canadian CD at the Barn Studios. This debut recording features fourteen tracks of Prasad doing his one-man-band sound on the lap slide guitar, the Mohan Veena, the blues harp and vocals.

He has received seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Music Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007.