WHITEFIELD:Rudresh Mahanthappa, alto saxophonist and jazz composer, is inspired by the music of the Indian maestros, but is wary of fusion experiments.
Now in Bengaluru with his band Gamak, Mahanthappa (44) says authenticity must be preserved even while musicians open up to diverse influences.
Born in Italy to parents who migrated to the US from Bengaluru, Mahanthappa graduated from Berklee College of Music, and later acquired a master’s degree in jazz composition.
Since 1998, he has lived in New York, collaborating with various musicians for his concerts and albums. Between 2005 and 2008, he visited India to work and perform with the Carnatic saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath, whose music he describes as ‘stellar’.
In an exclusive interview with City Express, Mahanthappa talks about his music and his show this weekend. Excerpts:
You mention a host of influences, including Carnatic saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath and jazz saxophonist Bunky Green. Tell us about how easy or difficult it is to integrate these diverse influences into your music.
I am Indian-American. Therefore, hybridity and biculturalism are concepts that I live and breathe 24/7. For me, there is little difference between Bunky and Kadri as both are stellar musicians at the top of their art form, manipulating melody and rhythm in gorgeous ways as improvisers. The beauty of jazz is that absorbing myriad influences is an inherent trait. Jazz was born from a synthesis of African and American forms, so merging styles and ideas only makes sense.
In formal terms, what similarities and differences do you find between Indian raga music and jazz? Do recordings such as Pandit Ravishankar-Yehudi Menuhin’s East Meets West inspire you? Any Indian styles, recordings and composers you like?
It’s the legends of Indian classical music that inspire me, Hindustani or Carnatic. The East-West collaborations have little to do with my artistic mission and are often very superficial in how they deal with both Western and Indian concepts. Authenticity is very important to me and exoticism is something to ardently avoid. Jazz and Indian music are similar in being improvised art forms with much formal structure. There is also a great attention paid to rhythmic propulsion in both types of music. Describing the similarities and differences could result in an interesting book, too much to explain here.
What are your impressions of Bengaluru so far? Have you got a taste of our traffic yet?
I’m still in Pune as I write, but I’ve been to Bengaluru several times as my parents are from there. They grew up in Malleswaram. I was last there in 2008 and the traffic was terrible!
What can music-lovers look forward to at your concerts in Bengaluru? Will you play Carnatic compositions such as Evari bodhana?
Absolutely not. We play my original compositions which folks can hear all over YouTube if they Google my name. It’s of no interest to me to play pieces like Evari bodhana. That doesn’t move the art form forward nor does it expose audiences to something new and provocative.
Is Bollywood music catching on in the West?
Bollywood music is somewhat popular in the West. I don’t really listen to it but my wife loves it.
Do you see yourself collaborating with any Indian musicians, besides Kadri?
I collaborate with Indian artists in the US regularly. Most recently, I wrote a work for Ragamala Dance, one of the most innovative Bharatanatyam groups in the world right now. I had wanted to do something with Mandolin Srinivas, but was unable to reach him in time.
Gamak with Rudresh Mahanthappa, 9.30 pm, Nov 27-29, Windmills Craftworks, 331, Road 5B, EPIP Zone, Whitefield