Experimenting with Jazz Fusion and Indian Classical

Imran Ahmed earned recognition as the frontman of the alternative rock band, Eclectic, becoming the Best Guitarist at 'Incursion Battle of the Bands' in 2012. He then went on to have a stint playing with the group Lalon, before joining Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music in India. Now he's back, playing with his trio project in Dhaka. His music is a unique blend of jazz fusion and Indian classical. SHOUT caught up with the guitarist to get his views on music, influences and his ambitions.

How would you describe your music?
Imran Ahmed: I'm doing projects with musicians from different backgrounds which allows me to make the kind of music I hear inside my head like jazz, fusion and of course Indian classical. Recently I've been exclusively playing Indian classical music with Nishit Dey and Dipankar Aich, and I'm also working with my other trio that includes Towfiq Arifin Turjo and Alistair Sarkar Raj which has a more progressive, jazz kind of sound.

What inspired you to shift from the music you were doing with Eclectic and Lalon to what you are doing now?
Imran Ahmed: What Eclectic had was an ambient sound with a touch of rock. What I am doing is now is very different, mostly because the influences changed a lot over the years. I'm really happy now because I get to go crazy with my music.

So who influenced you then and now?
Imran Ahmed: My earlier influences include artists like Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Radiohead, Porcupine Tree, Tool. But nowadays I'm more inspired by jazz/jazz fusion artists John McLaughlin, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery and Tal Farlow, as well as recent popular groups like Snarky Puppy, NOW VS NOW (Jason Lindner), BEAT MUSIC (Mark Guilliana). I have always had Indian classical influences like Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez (sitar), Ustad Zakir Hussain (tabla), Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod) and Pandit Ravi Shankar (sitar).
And I have to say, Nishit and Dipankar really inspired me to go for classical. They are really big influences as well.

How has Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (SAM) helped your journey?
Imran Ahmed: Before going to Swarnabhoomi, I didn't have much knowledge about scales and the notes I played, harmonies that were used, time signatures etc. It's wonderful studying music in an institution like SAM under world class faculties like Tom Brislin who played the keys with YES and toured with Camel, Steve Zerlin who played with the likes of Victor Wooten and Dennis Chambers. It's helping me in so many ways starting from composing to playing to putting an ensemble together. I can see music from a wider perspective and in a detailed way now. It opens up so many ideas that may not have been possible if I didn't have the opportunity to study music.

What are your goals for the future?
Imran Ahmed: I don't know actually. I'll keep studying and making music all my life. I'd love to perform regularly with different musicians and visit places with my music and go on a world tour at least once. (Laughs) And more importantly, I really hope, in time, the Bangladeshi music scene diversifies. I hope this generation of musicians does music because they love it, not to show off.