Gig review/ Quadrophonic II - 4 Pianos

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Louiz Banks & others/ Quadrophonic II - 4 Pianos

Genre: Jazz 

Details: Prithvi Theatre, November 18

Rating: ****

For the second year in succession, the annual Prithvi Theatre Festival concluded with a jazz concert. If the theme last year revolved around vocals, it focused on the piano this time. And with four musicians playing the instrument, it was appropriate to call it 'Quadrophonic II - 4 Pianos'.

The show was presented by maestro Louiz Banks and curated by drummer Gino Banks. Besides Louiz, the featured pianists and keyboardists were Rahul Wadhwani, Arka Chakraborty and Indrajit 'Tubby' Sharma. Gino and bassist Sheldon D'Silva formed the rhythm section.

"There's so much talent in Indian jazz," Louiz told this blogger in a brief informal conversation after the show. That was pretty much evident through the 90-minute set. What was noteworthy was the with one exception, all were original compositions.

After compere Eden Kesang announced the musicians, Rahul Wadhwani walked up to the piano. His solo composition 'Dot In A Circle' had a wonderful lilt, setting the mood. Gino and Sheldon then came on stage, as Rahul played an adaptation of his 'When Everything Stopped', which he had written during the lockdown and first recorded with trumpeter Manfred Paul Weinberger.

Louiz came up next and played two of his compositions 'Timeless' and 'Head On'. It was flawless piano trio music with some smooth improvisations, and both Sheldon and Gino contributing to the charm.

Arko began with the intense, technically sophisticated original 'Orbital'. For his second piece, he chose legendary pianist Thelonious Monk's 'Evidence', a remarkable selection considering the immense contribution Monk has made to the jazz world.

If the first three musicians stuck to the piano, Tubby Sharma alternated between piano and synthesiser keyboard, beginning with an improvisation of his 'Funkatarang' from his album Pitara. Next, he had the crowd to interact with him by singing or clapping along on 'Do It Like We Do'. Those moments were a total contrast to the more serious setting of the evening, and even though the purists may have squirmed, they were lively enough to boost the audience energy.

The evening was structured beautifully and it was only natural that all the musicians got together for the finaĺe. It came through fittingly with Louiz's composition 'Shiv Shakti', where all the pianists had individual parts before Sheldon played his trademark solo.

This was Louiz's third presentation at the Prithvi Theatre Festival. In 2022, they had a regular gig before making a formal announcement of the monthly Jazz@Prithvi brunch-time series. The next part of the series on November 24 will feature singer Isheeta Chakrvarty and her Collective, which will blend Hindustani classical compositions with jazz. The possibilities there are boundless, and one looks forward to the show.


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