Jazz notes with a bansuri twist

American Jazz artiste Carl Clements is in the country for a string of performances, and some lessons on the bansuri

Q. What is Latin Jazz? Have you come across an Indian connection, if at all?
A. I haven’t come across any Indian connection between Latin Jazz and India, but yes, Indian film composers have a long history of incorporating Latin influences in their music. That both African and Indian music are rhythm-based music, the connect has always been there. As for Latin Jazz, it’s a combination of Latin American music and Jazz. It emerged in the 1930s onwards with collaborations between Jazz artistes between US, South America and the Caribbean grew in works like Caravan that featured Duke Ellington and Puerto Rican artiste Juan Tizol. The Caribbean influences got stronger in later years when Cuban artistes started moving to New York in the 1950s, and due collaborations of American artistes like Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Kenton with artistes like Machito and Chano Pozo. Brazilian influences got prominent in the 1950s because of artistes like Antonio Carlos and Stan Gettz. The collaborations became famous in Bosso Nova, and later ,became a part of mainstream Jazz.

Saxophonist Carl Clements

Q. Saxophone or bansuri, which is your favourite instrument?
A. I have been playing saxophone for over 40 years, and I am more comfortable with it. Whereas, I have been playing bansuri for 25 years. They draw different sides of my personality and musical experiences. One is not more favourite than the other, but yes, I have been playing saxophone longer, so, it is more developed than the bansuri.

Q. You have performed with several Indian artistes lately. Last month, you were part of the Rajiv Raja Beatles Tribute performance. What brings you back each time?
A. My bansuri teacher Nityandan Haldipur lives in Bombay. Since 1992, I have been returning to study bansuri from him. But whenever I am here, I also try to collaborate and connect with local artistes. This time, I have had more than 10 performances all over the country. Over the years, I have played a lot with many artistes, including Sanjay Divecha. I also performed for The Beatles Jazzified show with Rajiv Raja. So, I do a lot of collaborations when I am in India.

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