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Transcendence 2.0: Louiz Banks pays tribute to Jazz legend Oscar Peterson in Mumbai
Oscar Peterson is unanimously acknowledged as one of the greatest exponents of jazz piano. My own switch to
jazz piano took place when my father introduced me to Oscar Peterson... that was the turning point in my
musical studies and pursuits.
—Louiz Banks
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Louiz Banks is India's pre-eminent jazz pianist, composer, film and record producer. He is also a Grammy nominee and fondly called the “Godfather of Indian Jazz."
Transcendence is an annual event where performers pay tribute to legends of Indian & Western jazz music. This year’s
Transcendence 2.0, which took place on June 8th in Mumbai, saw two modern day Indian legends, Grammy nominee Louiz Banks (piano) and Dr. Mysore Manjunath (violin) paying tribute to their respective idols, jazz legend
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Oscar Peterson and Carnatic legend T. Chowdiah. The concert featured the music of the “Vidwan of the Violin," fusing with the artistry of the “Maharaja of the Piano," and proved to be a stupendous success.
Louiz Banks and Dr. Mysore Manjunath were accompanied by Gianluca Liberatore (bass guitar), Vidwan Bangalore Amrit (khanjira), Gino Banks (drums) and Pt. Yogesh Samsi (tabla) and together they took the audience to a heightened level of consciousness with their music, culminating in a joyous transcendent state.
Louiz Banks on selecting Oscar Peterson: “The answer to that question will cover a few volumes... but in short... because Oscar Peterson is unanimously acknowledged as one of the greatest exponents of jazz iano..and he continues to inspire all students of jazz piano. My own switch to jazz took place when my father introduced me to Oscar Peterson... that was the turning point in my musical studies and pursuits. Hence, I pay homage to the greatness of Oscar Peterson."
The first set began with the lovely tribute by Louiz Banks to Oscar Peterson with some classic instrumental jazz popularized by Peterson. The second set began with a tribute by Vidwan Shri. Dr. Mysore Manjunathji to T.Chowdiah with the traditional Tyagaraja Kriti ‘Nyanamu Sakaratha’ in Purvikalyani. The finale was specially composed by Louiz Banks called “Reunion" loosely based on Raga Chandrakauns. The finale also had Gino Banks, Pt.Yogesh Samsi and Vidwan Bangalore Amrit, showcased their respective class and talent separately and then sparring amiably with each other on their instruments. Pradeep Joseph from
Raga to Rock enthused, “the concert was like sitting at the crossroads, where the music of Chennai and New Orleans met."
The Performers
Louiz Banks. Concept, Composer, Keyboards. A Grammy nominee, who has spearheaded the jazz movement in India for the past three decades. He has been singularly instrumental in bringing a high standard of jazz performances to jazz devotees in India.
Gianluca Liberatore. Bass Guitar. A bassist born in Palermo, Italy. After Graduating at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, he moved to Mumbai in 2015, where he works as Dean of Academics at the True School of Music. Gianluca has performed alongside
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