There is no bad music, only badly played music: Louizz Banks

Considered to be the godfather of Indian jazz music, a genre he has been associated with for almost 40 years, Louiz Banks calls his journey one of “love driven by music all along”. “The vast ocean of music has so much joy and inspiration to offer. I consider myself very lucky and blessed,” he says.

The composer, 80, has seen the industry change over the years. “Music keeps evolving with the youth as the driving force behind it, and it’s the same all over the world... there is a yearning for change. I am completely for it as long as norms and traditions are adhered to in some way. Of course, there will be some violations, but that’s natural,” philosophises Banks, whose biography — A Symphony of Love — was recently released.

The composer has given the background score for a number of Bollywood movies, but hisis focus has alwaysl been jazz. Ask him if he feels the genre is underrepresented, and he says, “Bollywood music is commercial music. It is a mishmash of every style of music under the sun and it’s primarily vocal, comprising catchy songs. So, what you hear is a sprinkling of all styles of music, which includes swingy and danceable jazz, which is great for jiving. Actually, there’s no jazz representation really in Bollywoodwood,” he shareshares.

Unlike most veteran musicians, who have a bone to pick with contemporary music, Banks is quite content with it. “Contemporary music scene is interesting, exciting, off the beaten track, provoking and futuristic. Thankfully, a new world dawns and I welcome it and embrace its irreverence and varied artistic virtuosity,” Banks says, adding, “There is no bad music, only badly played music.”