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A musical gypsy

THINK ADNAN Sami and think more. And jokes. Inside drawing rooms, on streets or on national television. The very same person is now a role model. 'It is a complete rebirth. I can only thank the Almighty for his divine grace,' says Adnan...

in his trademark baritone. But, there is more to the man than weight and its loss.

A child prodigy, Adnan began playing the piano and keyboard at the age of five and performed for the BBC when he was just nine. "My father, Arshad, was a music enthusiast. He trained in western classical and jazz, but never turned pro. But, his interest rubbed off on me," says Adnan, whose piano skills were honed first at the prestigious Rugby School, Warwickshire.

Again, he credits his inclination towards Hindustani classical to his father, who showed him some unique similarities between it and jazz, the genre he began with. "They are different melodically, but similar technically. Both require immense improvisation," he says.

To learn Hindustani classical's finer nuances, Adnan took sessions with Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. "The 100-stringed santoor and the piano belong to the same musical family. Panditji would explain something on the santoor, and I would try it on the piano. Being a patient, gentle and generous teacher, he helped me immensely," says Adnan, who was the first to play Hindustani classical on the piano.

What about fusion? "It is not new. Naushad saab used western instruments like violin, cello, piano and banjo in his music. SD Burman used Bengali folk music. Ragas like Kirwani and Bhopali show external influence. However, in my work I ensure that even if there are other strains, the base remains Indian, for listeners to relate," he says.

How would he categorise his music? "I wouldn't straitjacket it since I consider myself a 'world musical gypsy'. Having grown up in places like Portugal, Dubai and London, I consider the world to be my canvas. But I am more inclined towards jazz, hard rock and pop," says Adnan, whose idols include Dave Brubeck, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Jimi Hendrix and Sting.