The music is out there,” says French musician Erik Truffaz. “It comes naturally without effort. That is the wonder of life in which we can sometimes recreate magic from what is around us,” says the jazz fusion trumpet player who was in the city recently to perform at CounterCulture.
Stretching the boundaries of contemporary jazz music, Erik incorporates rock ‘n’ roll and dance music patterns blended with hip-hop rhythms into his soundscape making him a cutting-edge composer. He also expanded his horizon by infusing rock and rap elements into his most recent works.
The acclaimed musician plays along with the Truffaz Quartet comprising Marcello Giuliani on the bass, Patrick Muller on the keyboard and Marc Erbetta on the drums. Bangalore is not new for Erik. This is his third time in the city.
“I love Indian music. I love the modern approach that some of the musicians I’ve met and heard have taken. It’s a very broad perspective of India I carry around. I would love to explore more of the country and its music,” he says. Erik performed in front of an enthusiastic Indian audience at Jazz Utsav in 2010 apart from other events in the country.
The band which loves to create its own unique sound dynamics has experimented with various global projects, one of which was in India itself. “The Indian Project with guest artistes Malcolm Braff, Indrani and Apurba Mukerje captured the sound of Kolkata in its entirety. India’s subtle yet vibrant musical world is entirely captivating,” he shares.
The Switzerland born Frenchman’s quartet has 18 albums comprising a wide range of compositions from his assorted repertoire and special guest appearances by other artistes. Erik has also collaborated with various accomplished musicians and performed in several projects and festivals across the globe. Erik grew up in a world of music, thanks to his saxophone-playing father. When he was 10, Erik started performing in his father’s dance band.
“As I grew, I began performing with other bands in the region until, at the age of 16, I heard ‘Kind of Blue’ by American jazz musician Miles Davis. That set me on course to Switzerland's Geneva Conservatoire where I got introduced to works of Mozart and Verdi. Since then, there has been no turning back,” he says.
When it comes to song-writing, Erik often refers to experiences. “When people listen to me, I like to offer them something special and different. So, I constantly work on improvisations. My music has evolved over the years. I always try to infuse new elements into my songs and I try to bring all that I have learnt over the years into my music,” he reveals.
To upcoming musicians and songwriters, he says, “Find your own sound, work hard and discover the music around you.”
