Jazz is challenging, it takes character to stick with it: Amyt Datta

Who better than Amyt Datta to gauge the possibilities of modern jazz? The guitarist and music producer has been one of the most prominent names in Kolkata's rock and jazz spectrum for a few decades now. The musician has been a part of bands like Shiva and Skinny Alley and counts the late jazz guitarist Carlton Kitto as one of his teachers. On International Jazz Day, we spoke to Datta about the modern jazz listeners, the lack of jazz festivals in Kolkata and about what draws him to this genre to this day. Excerpts from the chat.

How has the jazz audience changed in the last few years?
To cut a long story short, earlier there used to be yearly jazz festivals which helped spread awareness among people about this genre. People would attend these festivals and interest would grow, though it was always a very slow process. However, that has stopped now due to a lack of sponsors and a number of other reasons; this is from the point of view of the artists.

Now speaking of the listener, there are two groups — one that listens to the old kind of jazz which has a lot of saxophones and on the other hand, there is the modern listener. Jazz has grown and this has made way for music not in the traditional jazz form but more in the jazz territory, if you will.

What do you think makes jazz a genre so unique and creatively fulfilling to work with?
This genre of music is very, very challenging and it takes a lot of character to stick with it. However, the most fun thing is that it is almost completely improvised. It’s all about having it in the spur of the moment so we also run the heavy risk of not having a good evening in performance. Having said that, on good days you have everything in place — the coordination and the creative mind — so that is the gift of the craft.

How do you think young musicians are responding and discovering it?
The young people are waiting for more jazz events to come but it is a very niche market. Whenever I play gigs, I meet young people who are expecting these events. However, due to economic restraints and a lack of sponsors, jazz musicians don’t get to travel much.

How have you been guiding them to explore the genre, as their mentor and a veteran?
It’s just like falling in love, true love. Just like one falls in love unconditionally, falling in love with music is the same. I keep telling my students and youngsters to do it for the love of the art form and not for fame. But, music can be quite ruthless too because it doesn’t give you much at the beginning. But if you stick by it and practice, in due course of time, it gives you gifts like the rains from the skies. I’ve given my life to music and I’m still carrying on.

What do you think is the importance of dedicated venues and festivals to keep jazz alive?
I think it is important to receive support from business people, people who are passionate about it along with getting the recognition that this is a dignified job.

- By Aatreyee Mohanta

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