Experience
a once-in-a-lifetime event paying tribute to the funk and pop genre from the
60’s, 70’s and the 80’s!
The concert
promises to be an evening of unparalleled groove and party music featuring a top
notch line-up of musicians who will add their own mix of a few contemporary
tunes that draw their lineage from the Funk masters of yesteryear.
Get ready for some
serious fun and party with the band from start to finish!
Ranjit Barot is today on the forefront of both worlds, the mainstream popular Indian / World music and Jazz Fusion genres. He is the Musical Director for all of Oscar winning composer, A.R.Rahman’s Live Concerts and holds the coveted ‘throne’ as Drummer for world renowned Guitar legend John Mclaughlin & The 4th Dimension band. Born into a family steeped in Indian classical music and dance, melody and rhythm has always been an integral part of Ranjit’s life, and he started playing at the age of 12, encouraged by his mother, the legendary Kathak dancer, Sitara Devi. His early career saw performances with Louis Banks & the Jazz Yatra Sextet, the great Pandit Ravi Shankar, the maestros, (late) Don Cherry & (late) Charlie Mariano. His unique approach to drumming has seen collaborations with Maestro Zakir Hussain, including a ‘Masters of Percussion’ US Tour in 2004., Carnatic classical legends, Maestro U. Srinivas and Guru L. Subramaniam, Hindustani slide guitar master exponent, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, sarangi legend Ustad Sultan Khan Sahab, ghattam maestro Pandit ‘Vikku’ Vinayakaram, Khanjira exponent Selva Ganesh, among many other noted artists. His work / performances with the Western greats have included unique collaborations with renowned artists such as Bill Evans, Scott Kinsey, Jonas Helborg, Ayden Esen, and Tim Garland. Ranjit has also had a long career in composition and music production, working out of his own state-of-the-art studio facility, in Mumbai, India. Combined with his strong roots in the Indian classical tradition and his world-view of music gave him a unique perspective on the Indian Film genre. His career spans projects over the last almost 4 decades as a featured drummer and arranger for Indian Film Industry erstwhile giants such as R.D. Burman, Lakshmikant - Pyaarelal right up to A.R. Rahman’s greatest work through the years, including the Grammy & Oscar nominated ‘127 Hours’ and continues to bring his unique personality to this genre of music. His recognition as a Music Composer and Arranger for Album Projects and Feature Films has earned him the Filmfare Award for his score in ‘Aks’ (2001) and more recently his work in ‘Shaitan’ swept all 3 major Indian awards, in the year 2011.
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Zubin Balaporia is a composer/performer based in Mumbai. He started playing the piano at the age of six and has never looked back. Since 1988 he has produced music and been involved in sound design for Television and Radio commercials as well as Corporate Films for many major international brands. He has worked as Musical Director for musical theatre productions such as The Sound Of Music, My Fair Lady, Jesus Christ Superstar and I Believe as well as for several major documentary films. Zubin has also been Music Director and composed the Background Score for a few feature films namely, DEV, Honeymoon Travels, Lafangey Parindey and Fireflies. For the last twenty years Zubin has performed, toured and recorded with the well established Indian rock band, Indus Creed, formerly known as Rock Machine. The band has the distinction of giving the face of Indian rock international exposure and recognition. He has recorded, arranged, performed and co-produced all four of the Rock Machine/Indus Creed’s albums – Rock ‘n’ Roll Renegade, The Second Coming, Indus Creed and most recently Evolve. Indus Creed has toured the length and breadth of India, and have performed in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Singapore, and represented the country at the Festival of India in the former Soviet Union. They have performed at other major festivals including the Peter Gabriel sponsored Womad festival held in the United Kingdom at Reading as well as at some major clubs in the United Kingdom & United States of America. ndus Creed has opened performances for international bands like Bon Jovi and Europe as well as for guitar maestro Carlos Santana. They’ve also performed with Slash, guitarist for Guns ‘n’ Roses and alongside British rock band, Uriah Heap and won the MTV Asian Video Music Award, Channel V Best Indian Band Award, the Indian Recording Arts Academy’s and Vh1 Music Channel’s Hall of Fame Awards. In 2012, Zubin won the Rolling Stones/Jack Daniels award for Best Keyboardist. He is currently teaching “Scoring to Picture” at The True School of Music.
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The period from the 1960s to the 80s saw the emergence of various music styles like Disco, Ambient, Funk, Heavy Metal, Psychedelic, and Folk Music. Let us explore some of these genres in detail:
Ambient Music
Ambient music, first developed in the early 1970s in the UK, has evolved over the years to become a genre known for its subtle instrumentals and atmospheric qualities. One of the significant features of ambient music is its emphasis on creating atmospheres and textures through sound. Ambient musicians often explore timbre and minimal harmonic progression, focusing on mood and atmosphere to create an immersive sonic experience for listeners. This genre has further grown into various sub-genres, including Ambient House, Ambient Techno, Dark Ambient, Ambient Trance, and Ambient Dub.
Funk Music
Funk music, originating from a fusion of various African-American music genres such as blues, jazz, R&B, and soul, has left a significant mark on the music industry. The term "funk" carries multiple connotations, but in the realm of music, it signifies a vibrant dance style that gained immense popularity from the late 1960s through the late 1970s. One of the defining characteristics of funk music is its intricate and robust rhythms. This genre places a strong emphasis on bass lines, drum beats, and riffs while deviating from the traditional focus on melody and chord progressions. The result is a dynamic sound that encourages movement and groove.
Heavy Metal Music
The term "heavy metal" first appeared in the lyrics of the iconic song "Born to be Wild" by Steppenwolf in 1968. However, its origin is also attributed to novelist William Burroughs back in the 19th century. Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and 1970s and gained immense popularity, particularly in the UK and the US. Characterized by distorted guitars, loud beats, and raging vocals, heavy metal's key element is the electric guitar. The genre is popular for its highly amplified distortion, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats, and overall loudness that set it apart from other forms of rock music.
Exploring the Connection between Funk & Pop Music
Both Funk and Pop music share similarities in instrumentation and notation, yet they each have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Pop music is known for its wide variety of styles and themes, catering to a broad audience. On the other hand, Funk music is more concise and focused, characterized by its groovy rhythms and emphasis on syncopation and staccato notes. One interesting aspect is how modern synthesizers have played a significant role in shaping the sound of both genres. The Funk beat, with its infectious rhythm, became a primary element in Black Popular music, influencing various styles in the 1980s. During this time, the influence of Funk spread to other genres like hard rock and punk, leading to unique fusions that shaped new musical landscapes. This influence was particularly evident in hip-hop and dance music, where elements of Funk added depth and groove to the evolving soundscape.
Previous Collaborations of Ranjit Barot, Zubin Balaporia, and Louiz Banks
Ranjit Barot started playing at the age of 12, and he also played with Louiz Banks. He played for the Indian jazz fusion supergroup Jazz Yatra Sextet in Europe. The duo of The Grandmaster and the Maestro - Louis Banks and Ranjit Barot enthralled audiences with their musical collaboration at The Quarter at Royal Opera House Mumbai in 2018 after almost two decades of separate journeys. December 2023 witnessed the magic of Ranjit Barot and Zubin Balaporia at a concert titled "CELEBRATION" in Goa by Serendipity Arts Foundation.
