Indi Art Orchestra ...over 50 years in the music business Monday, May 2 2011
TRINIDAD NEWSDAY - By SEETA PERSAD - In 2006 the D Rampersad Indi Art Orchestra received the Humming Bird Gold Medal for their contribution to East Indian music in Trinidad and Tobago.
Established by the late Sewak Gyan in 1955 in Sangre Grande, the band now celebrates 56 years in the music business.
The current music director and arranger, Teddy Krishna Bissambhar took over leadership of the band in 1975.
Since then the well-known keyboardist has been the guiding light of this music house. Bissambhar took time off his busy schedule to chat with Newsday.
Teddy and his brother, the late Jeewanlal Bissambhar spent much of their time as children learning to play different instruments. The brother were close and helped each other learn the strings and notes of the instruments.
“Back in the early days in the 1950s, the Sewak family started doing songs from the Bollywood films then known as ‘Bombay Film Songs’. The term ‘Bollywood’ came after as it fashioned itself to Hollywood of the USA,” Bissambhar reminisced.
According to Bissambhar, during the ’70s there was a big demand for Bollywood songs as there were many Bollywwod films coming to TT.
“People loved the songs of that era. Even today there is a demand for songs sung by Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle and Mohammed Rafi,” he said. During this time, he spent most of his time rehearsing and putting music together for the many shows they were contracted to do back then.
Through his dynamic leadership the band gained popularity as the years rolled by, and was able to secure the sponsorship of automotive firm, D Rampersad and Company Limited. With the financial backing the band was able to acquire instruments and equipment. This gave the band a boost and they skyrocketed to greater heights in the sphere of Indian Culture in this country.
“I got three hours of sleep in those days. It was music practice all day and nightly performances throughout the country,” Bissambhar said. He added that he and Jeewanlal would spend long hours in the studio in Sangre Grande putting the melodies and music together for stage shows and television.
The ’80s saw a number of new bands emerging, but Indi Art was able to maintain its edge and was ranked among the best. Through the years, they have collected several awards and won many competitions. In 1988 and 1989, the band defeated 21 top orchestras at the National Orchestration Competition “Saaj Sameelaan,” organised by the National Council of Indian Culture (NCIC).
The band performed at the Carnival Expo ’89 and Soca Village alongside top soca bands. That year the band also performed with India’s Charanjit Singh, who performed in this country. In 1990 the Bissambhar brothers composed the test-piece, “Rainbow” for the National Pan/Chutney Competition organised by the Hindi Nidi Foundation and Pan Trinbago. Teddy was given the task of composing a piece which showcased steelpan rhythm and East Indian filmy music. The piece brought praises from the top notch musicians from India and the Caribban.
Then in 1991 the band was called on to provide music for the very popular television series “Mastana Bahar” and Indian Cultural Pageant. This they did till 2000.
In 1992 Indi Art thrilled audiences at the Palais Hindu Celebrations in Curacao as the musicians and singers began their first world tour. The band continued touring for many years, performing in Canada and North America and the UK. While at home they were called to provide music for India’s popular Ghazal singer, Pamela Singh. The following year they performed alongside India’s popular cabaret singer Usha Urtup and Anoop Jalota. They went to accompany famous play-back singers, Kumar Sanu, Nitin Mukesh, and Sonu Nigam at the National Stadium. “I think this was the highlight of our career as we were on home ground before an estimated crowd of 23,000,” Bissambhar said.
He went on to compose two orchestra test pieces, “Chutney Fantasy” and “Taaj Mahal,” for Pan Trinbago. The band also provided backup music for the first ever “National Chutney/Soca Monarch Competition” organised by Southex Promotions.
Teddy and his wife Zaida had two sons Akash and Neval while Jeewanlal had four children, Ravi, Nisha, Anil and Kavita, who branched off on their own to form the band Karma. In 2005 Teddy was ready to hand over the mantle to his son, Akash and he established a recording studio with some of the most modern hi-tech equipment.
Akash, who, like his father, is a skilled keyboardist, has brought in new ideas to the band and increased its repertoire.
The young Bissambhar successfully completed his studies at the North Eastern College, Sangre Grande and is currently furthering his education in computer studies. Akash admits the introduction of computers to music production has enhanced the quality of sound and sound effects, which brings a certain versatility to the band.
Akash is joined by his brother Neval who is a guitarist with the band.
The band has come full circle from the days of Teddy and Jeewanlal as the younger Bissmabhar brothers bounce ideas off one another to create better music, songs and productions.
“I know the people look to us to provide music and with this in mind I have committed myself to carry on the legacy of my father,” Neval said.
