Shawn Lane (top) and Jonas Hellborg

Shillong, Jan. 30: Known for its tradition of commemorative concerts, this picturesque town of music lovers will take a walk down Shawn Lane tomorrow.

For the uninitiated, Lane was one of the world’s great guitarists, a wizard whose fingers caressed the six strings faster than any contemporary musician did.

Appropriately, the musical tribute to Lane’s genius will be by two musicians who recorded albums with him. Bassist Jonas Hellborg and percussionist Selva Ganesh, who is the son of ghatam player Vikoo Vinayakan and a member of the fusion band Shakti, will perform at Centre Point Hotel.

The concert, being promoted as “A Transcontinental Gathering”, is expected to delight jazz fans. Both Hellborg and Ganesh are known to improvise on the spot.

The duo performed in Calcutta, where jazz has always been popular, before arriving here.

Shillong was chosen as the venue of a tribute to Lane because the guitarist visited the town last year and returned intensely fascinated by its people and idyllic ambience.

“He was here early last year on a three-day trip along with Jonas and Italian drummer Andrea Marchessini. Though Lane was ailing at the time, he gave a glimpse of his skills. It was one of his last acts,” the managing director of Centre Point Hotel, Larsingh M, said.

He quoted Lane as saying during that visit that “sometimes one can play the best gig when one is ill”.

Hellborg, who is a Swede, and Ganesh cut several albums with Lane during a long association spanning the Nineties.

The threesome recorded the bestselling albums Good People in Times of Evil and Icon even as they toured Europe.

Ganesh said Lane was a fan of Carnatic music and had a “phenomenal collection” of Indian music cassettes and CDs.

He would keep asking his Indian musical partner about eastern rhythms.

“It was like we were one family,” Ganesh recalled.

Lane is no more, but Hellborg and Ganesh keep his legacy alive. The duo’s concert in Shillong is expected not just to be a treat for the ears, but also a celebration of friendship.