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The right FUSE
The Pipers...Louis Banks with Taufiq Qureshi and Niladri Kumar in New Delhi. Photo: Anu Pushkarna.
WITH PURITY losing taste in the mass palette and remixes failing to satiate the niche, fusion is increasingly becoming the meeting ground for the two. Result, fusion bands are breeding by the brunch. This time it is Rhythm Asia, which performed this past week in Gurgaon for Seagram's 100 Pipers Pure Music.
But hold on, it's only the name that has to rise the popularity charts only to meet the members, who are already up there. Led by the legendary Louis Banks, the godfather of Jazz in India, the band has the mercurial Taufiq Qureshi and the talented Niladri Kumar, fresh from his Immies award.
"The attempt is to explore the fusion possibilities which is emerging as the next big thing in music in India. Inspiration has been Shakti where Zakir Husain, John Mclaughlin and I were there but here the music is totally different," says Banks.
Improvisation
Explaininghis music he holds fusion requires accomplished artists. "Here music is not written down from the first note to the last note. We do have a set start and a finish but in between it is all about improvisation. And in front of live audience it is not an easy thing to do. When Neeladri goes on his sitar swings, it is pure classical, we play the supporting role. I have made jazz music compatible with Indian scales. So in a way we feed each other."
Taufiq described by Louis as the catalyst joining the eastern and western hemisphere represented by Niladri and himself says there is no point in denigrating fusion. "After all over the years, film music is all about fusion of Caribbean, Egyptian and many other beats. Difference is, it is for short durations. Also you have to accept today's young audience is not comfortable sitting through concerts. In such a situation if Niladri's sitar in a fusion inspires somebody to listen to Pandit Ravi Shankar, then our effort is worth it."
Young Niladri feels it is sad there are no talent hunts for percussionists and in the media limelight everybody is for instant success. "In our form it is not like sports that if the present batch is good, the talented bench will go into wilderness without getting an opportunity to show the mettle. Here a performer matures with age. And the modesty is part of our culture, not a put on. I feel in the packaged formats we are missing out on this trait. Opportunities are fine, but whether they can bring lasting success remains to be seen."
ANUJ KUMAR
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