What could be common between Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music and contemporary jazz? If you were in London over the weekend, you would know the answer. ‘The Back to the Blues’ concert saw the coming together of three very unique music forms with Carnatic vocalist and Padma Shri awardee Aruna Sairam and British sarod player Soumik Datta.
Presented by the Bagri Foundation, ‘Back to the Blues’ at St John’s Smith Square also featured London-based percussionist Pirashanna Thevarajah on kanjira and mridangam; Cormac Byrne on Irish percussion and Al MacSween on piano.
“It was the opportunity for me to delve into the roots of musical forms that I love but have not had a chance to explore collaboratively,” Soumik says. “What connects Hindustani, Carnatic and Blues traditions? I think the answer is something vast, like human expression and how it connects people across the world.”
“Putting Carnatic, Hindustani and jazz together is an exciting, heady mix,” Aruna says. “It is like making Mysore rasam with basil and saffron — two ingredients you would never put in rasam but if you do, it would be amazing!”
Shoumik laughs and adds: “I think people have a clear idea about Hindustani, Carnatic and blues, so the ear of the listener usually searches for something to relate to. I had composed the music for this show keeping this in mind, playing with the idea of expectation and familiarity. We hope the concert took the audience to places they know and others that were unexpected and surprising.”
Soumik says his contribution was composing and arranging new minimalist music which bridges traditional Carnatic ragas through the lens of contemporary jazz. “Aruna brings the pallavis (thematic lines in Carnatic music), backed by counter melodies between the sarod and piano, key changes, dynamic shifts and powerful rhythmic encounters between the morsing and the bodhrán (Irish frame drum) blended with traces of compositions by Tyagarajah and composers I admire such as Ligeti and Phillip Glass. The purpose of the concert was to offer modern listeners a fresh, new, global sound that appeals to Indians and non-Indian alike.”
CHENNAI -- 12-09-2017: Carnatic vocalist Aruna Sairam. Photo: K.V. Srinivasan
For Aruna, the best part about the collaboration was a chance to revisit her past. “I grew up in Bombay and learnt music from a very traditional guru. At the same time, I loved other styles like Hindi, film, folk, western classical music — that is what my Bombay upbringing did to me. I am not a Carnatic musician in that sense. I love all forms of music. When I see someone like the young and talented Soumik Datta, who has grown up in London learning classical Hindustani music but also growing up listening and loving other forms of music that abound in London, I see myself in Soumik in a different time and space. Bombay in so many ways is similar to London.”
Looking back, the two say it was a collaboration waiting to happen when they recollect how their paths crossed. Soumik says, “Over the years I’ve found myself drawn to unique projects that challenge and inspire me. ‘Circle of Sound’ was a duet project I formed with Austrian drummer Bernhard Schimpelsberger to explore the conversations between sarod and drum and bass. ‘King of Ghosts’ was an exploration of film, orchestra and sarod. I am currently working on a trio project with Korean and Japanese musicians. ‘Back to the Blues’ was a worthy endeavour in this line up of collaborations. When the Bagri Foundation commissioned me to compose for this project, I was delighted to snap up the opportunity to work with the majestic Aruna Sairam.”
Talking of future projects Aruna says she just finished a Gregorian chants tour with Dominique Vellard across five Indian cities. “Just before I left for London, I shared the stage with Birju Maharaj for ‘The Great Mandolin’, a tribute to Sri U Srinivas. I am excited about heading to Jerusalem for the International Oud Festival in November 2018.”
Soumik says in 2017, he directed his debut film series Tuning 2 You: Lost Musicians of India , a musical journey introducing grass roots musicians across rural India. “My brother and co-director, Souvid Datta, now plans to shoot a sequel, showcasing the incredible folk music of Pakistan. Finding platforms for gifted musicians gives me great joy. I run a charity in London called Soumik Datta Arts through which we curate festivals, promote new talent and build bridges with like-minded groups across the world.”
