(L-R) Raj Sodha, Bosco Monsorate and Shyam Raj. Pictures: Arnab Mondal

RD Burman numbers, performed live, work wonders with the audience. They smile, hum and clap along. On Thursday evening, jazz pianist Louiz Banks, along with five original Pancham musicians from Mumbai, surprised many in the audience at Kala Mandir with their jazzy take on Pancham’s songs. This time, the members in the audience nodded their heads and tapped their feet to the bossa nova and swing rhythms played by the band.

Pancham Studio, presented by McDowell’s No. 1 Platinum Soda in association with t2, was by turns revealing and innovative. Staying true to the spirit of jazz, the musicians — with Louiz Banks at the helm — came up with dynamic arrangements and spur-of-the-moment improvisations that not only fleshed out the compositions but also illuminated, as Louiz said, “the scope and depth of the beautiful melodies”.

In the beginning the musicians delivered upbeat, swinging renditions of O Maria and Mehbooba. Soon the lights dimmed as Louiz took his place at the piano and opened with Chhinno bina. He played solo, effortlessly giving the composition a certain kind of gentleness and charm. “There’s so much scope for improvisation,” said Louiz as the crowd burst into applause after his elegant rendition of Tumse mil ke. Trumpet player Bosco Monsorate drew applause for the soulful Kuch na kaho.

High point of the evening? Chura liya, which had guitarist Rhythm Shaw playing the blues and saxophonist Raj Sodha doing the melody line on the flute.

The concert marked Pancham’s 74th birth anniversary.

Louiz Banks played the solo piano pieces in RD Burman’s compositions from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s. However, the ace jazz pianist got to play Pancham’s numbers live in his own way for the first time on June 27 at Kala Mandir. “Nowhere have I played at any show of Panchamda’s.This is a first. It brings back all the memories, nostalgia, the fun and love we shared during those recording sessions. I’m getting an opportunity to play the songs my way, not the film way,” said Louiz, before sharing a few Pancham moments and memories with t2...

He was a great friend, he had no airs about him. He was in such an exalted position in the music world, but when you met him, when you worked with him, you knew he was just like a musician next door.

He was full of ideas. He reacted spontaneously to sounds, rhythms and phrases. A lot of Mukti songs happened like that, while I was doodling on the piano.

I remember somebody coming into the restaurant [Blue Fox] where I was playing. I took a break and the waiter came up to me and said that this gentleman wanted to speak with me. “He is a very famous music director from Bombay,” he said. “What’s his name?” I asked. He replied, “RD Burman”. It didn’t ring a bell. Nothing. I didn’t know who RD was! Out of courtesy, I went and met him. “While listening to you, I got an inspiration, that I could use your playing in a movie. The hero of this movie (Mukti, Shashi Kapoor) plays the piano,” said RD. It was a chance meeting that clicked.

Arindam Chatterjee

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