Monday, November 28, 2011

INDIA: Fusion trio is here to electrify

Percussionist Sivamani, jazz maestro Louiz Banks and zitar player Niladri Kumar will rock the show at Mountain Heights tonight as part of the Times Hyderabad Festival.

Music is not about Bollyood alone
He is the Godfather of Jazz in India. With many national and international laurels in his kitty, including a Grammy nomination, the Big Daddy of Indian Jazz, Louiz Banks is all set to perform in the city today.

"Hyderabadis can look forward to some electrifying music. The band, Asia Electric, has me on keyboards, Niladri on the zitar and Sivamani on percussion. It will be interesting for the audience to hear our interpretation of genres like jazz, classical, rock and other elements," says Banks.

Louiz says Asia Electric is more than a 'band', it's a journey. "We have been playing for a number of years now. But every time we are on stage, the experience is different. Our music is based on traditional classical ragas, but the treatment is global. We infuse a lot of rhythms from genres like rock, pop, oriental, jazz, African, etc. Of course, there is Sivamani with his bag of tricks that makes for a perfect stage act."

For someone who has brought the country laurels with a Grammy nomination, Banks is rooted to his music and hopes that the younger generation imbibes 'originality'. "Classical music - be it Indian or Western - gives you a strong base in music. It opens your mind and makes you more receptive. Youngsters need to know that music is not about Bollywood alone. I hope they see for themselves at the concert. Music is like an ocean and you shouldn't restrict yourself to just the shores. Test the waters and you'll be enlightened," says Banks.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com