Ranjit Barot's Contraband set to perform experimental jazz this week in Mumbai

He has been the drummer for John McLaughlinrsquos famed 4th Dimension He leads the line for AR Rahmanrsquos live concerts with his compositions This week Ranjit Barot returns to Mumbai with his latest venture Contraband for a musical performance of experimental jazz that unites his work and learningA conversation with the composer is a throwback to rebellious musicians in love with their art He recently returned from from Budapest after touring with McLaughlin and revels in it ldquoMan he is 81 and still rockingrdquo Barot says of the ace guitaristHaving played over the decades for names such as KalyanjiAnandji to Louis Banks McLaughlin to AR Rahman Barot says each influence has informed his oeuvre ldquoTherersquos a lot of music that lives inside me like different characters in a film Now these characters have to find a way to talk to each other and make senserdquo he adds This he says is often the trigger for his new creationsBut to prompt this musical conversation the composer had to find the right actors who shared his vision He found them in the new group that comprises his daughter vocalist Mallika Barot and fellow vocalists Azamaan Hoyvoy and Vasundhara Vee saxophonist Mark Hartsuch bassist Avishek Dey keyboardists Rahul Wadhwani and Arka Chakraborty among others Thus Contraband was formed in 2022Barot describes the sound for Contraband as ldquoa sonic space that embraces a younger vibrant energy within the parameters of intelligent improvised musicrdquo He expands further ldquoI want Contraband to be a fluid ensemble that features different instrumentalists The idea is to have a core working group and then we can collaborate with more peoplerdquoTomorrowrsquos gig will see the lineup perform compositions by Barot that are tributes to some masters including jazz greats Herbie Hancock and Joe Zawinul It is a niche genre he admits and one that is struggling for a foothold in an increasingly commercial Indian music space But he remains adamant ldquoThere is no reward system in music except that you will get better at what you do It is not financial or metrical It is a monkhoodrdquoThis belief stems from a very long career on stage performing alongside a vast range of artistes It is also something that he looks for in the new generation of Indian musicians He shares ldquoI think therersquos a lot of good talent in India but their reference point is too current You can buy a million dollar digital camera but the fundamentals of cinematography remain the same That needs to be addressedrdquoReferring to it as the difference between muscle reflex and emotional creativity Barot elaborates ldquoYou could be a competent writer But do you have the imagination of Lord Byron or Kahlil Gibran We need musicians to start tapping into life experiences and the emotional approachrdquo In an industry driven by streaming numbers this statement might come across as anachronistic The composer admits as much ldquoI know I am a dinosaur on a lot of levels but there are quite a few people who share my ideasrdquoHe has found a connection now with Contraband that has sparked his desire to play more in India ldquoI feel a calling and I want to come back from the US and play a lot here in India I always wanted to do so It is my home town and my country after allrdquo he says We are more than glad to hear thatOn January 25 8 pmLog on to insiderinCost Rs 499