Award-winning guitarist, composer and singer-songwriter, Dave Cipriani, leads the acclaimed fusion group Mahadev, seen in concerts, venues and festivals throughout California and the Maryland/DC area. Dave’s music embodies his quest to merge years of deep spiritual study with his eclectic musical roots. He performs on seven-string guitar, hybrid electric and Indian slide guitar, to create a signature style that blends the mystic, ethereal, earthy and modern. Dave brings his intense studies of Indian, Balkan and African music, along with classical, rock and other influences to produce a distinctive World Music sound. His mentors and teachers include Charlie Byrd, Ustad Aashish Khan, sitar master Jai Kishor, and late Indian Slide guitar pioneer Pandit Barun Kumar Pal, who he studied with in India. 

Dave received his MFA in Indian Music from California Institute of the Arts, where he also studied rhythm concepts with Randy Gloss and Pdt. Swapan Chaudhuri, and Balkan music with Miroslav Tadic. Dave and Mahadev have performed with such renowned artists as Ud. Pranesh Khan, Steve Gorn, Sheela Bringi, Javad Bhutah, Debu Nayak, Rafe Pearlman, Karnamrita Dasi, Mikael Jorgensen (Wilco), Leonice Shinneman and Qawaali master, Sukhwat Khan. Dave has several TV/Film credits as a performer and offers workshops to musicians, singers and especially guitarists interested in exploring contemporary spiritual music and World Music.