Some popular Bengali and Hindi songs like 'Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Chorenge' and 'Dhitang Dhitang Bole' have been given a jazz twist by a famous American band.
"We try to understand the meaning of the song and follow the original spirit by improvising a little bit but we do not copy them while performing," Ari Roland of the New York-based Ari Rowland Jazz Quartet told PTI here.
As a special treat for Kolkata's jazz connoisseurs hosted by the US Consulate last evening, they dished out classic jazz music of the thirties and forties interspersed with some popular Indian songs.
The 'desi' fare included the evergreen 'Yeh Dosti Hum nahi Chorenge' from 'Sholay', 'Ei path jodi na sesh hoye' from Bengali movie 'Saptapadi', Hemanta Mukherjee's song and a Salil Chowdhury composition 'Dhitang Dhitang bole' and hit Bengali folk song 'Sundari Kamala Nachey re'.
Appreciating India's rich musical traditions, Roland said Indian music is complex rhythmically and filled with emotions and a storyline.
"Jazz music is also sophisticated and therefore one can blend the two," said the musician who admits to be a fan of Rabindranath Tagore.
"As a child my father had given me his book of poems and since then I was hooked onto his works. His songs are very melodious and so easy to remember with passing time. And the meaning of his songs remain relevant even today," said the bass player who started playing jazz professionally at the age of 16.
The band is inspired by jazz music from the 1930's through 1950's, also known as the golden age of jazz.
The four member ensemble's repertoire includes pieces by jazz legends such as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Billie Holiday as well as their own original compositions.
American Center Director Joanne Joria said, "Jazz is one of the greatest American art forms with a rich history and legacy that transcends age, race, gender and class".
The Ari Roland Quartet will now travel to Delhi to perform at the Delhi Jazz Festival on March 28.
The tour is part of US Department of State's musical exchange programs which gives local audiences the opportunity to interact directly with American artists.
