Born: February 11, 1941 Primary Instrument: Keyboard
Around 1984, he got on to electronic instruments seriously and began writing music for commercials and became the blue eyed boy of advertising .Louiz literally ruled the advertising world with his music for over 15 years . With his first European Tour with the fusion Band SANGAM ,with the amazing Ranjit Barot ,Karl Peters,Charlie Mariano ,Ramamani and TAS Mani with KCP, Fusion music has played a big part in the life of this jazz man .Over the years Louiz has played with some of the world's greatest jazz men to create very memorable music and still continues to do so .
Louiz is acknowledged as India's premier Jazz pianist since the last two decades as well as a prolific composer of music sound tracks for theater, stage and feature films. He continues to be the most sought after music composer of jingles, corporate anthems, audio visuals and documentaries. In fact, he is considered to be the most prolific composer of advertising jingles having recorded an incredible 7000 jingles in a span of 15 years. He is a sure fire bet for an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records on this score. Despite his tremendous commercial success, his first love remains Jazz.
He is the face of Indian Jazz and is the jazz icon of this country .He has represented India in many International festivals all over the world with great success. Recently,Louiz has been appointed the Brand Ambassador for the Yamaha Clavinova Digital Pianos in India and the Stage Pass Sound Reproduction System by Yamaha , which adds another feather to his overloaded cap
Though his main focus now is live performances , Louiz continues to compose for ad. commercials besides performing and exploring new territories in music quite extensively in India and abroad with his world fusion bands SILK with Shankar Mahadevan ,AATMA with Gino Banks, AAKRITI with Adittee Bhagwat and ASIA ELECTRIK with Sivamani and Niladri Kumar.
His recent collaboaration as co producer,arranger and pianist/keyboards on the album MILES FROM INDIA was nominated for the Grammy's 2008 for the contemporary jazz category..also his work as a keyboardist for John McLaughlin's FLOATING POINT fusion album was nominated for the Grammy's 2008
Last Updated: March 28, 2009
India's best known jazz musician Louis Banks is keeping his fingers crossed. He hopes that one of his two latest international albums wins a Grammy nomination this year.
“And I wish one of them wins an award. Both have been sent to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the US, which presents the awards every year,” Banks told us in the capital.
He was in New Delhi to announce the names of the nominees of the eighth edition of the Teachers' Achievements Awards for contemporary music at a special function in the Metropolitan Mall in Saket as part of the eight-member jury. The awards are conferred on achievers in business, sports, music and communications.
Banks is credited with the signature anthems, “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”, “Desh Raag” and “Spread the Light of Freedom” - the jingles to national unity.
“This year, the two international projects that I have recently completed have been my biggest achievements,” he said.
“Both are jazz-based - like all my music. The first album is 'Miles from India', an unusual Indian fusion tribute to the founder of modern jazz Miles Davies. The idea was sown by a US-based record producer Yusuf Gandhi and Grammy-winning producer Bob Beldini. We wanted to pay tribute to Miles in a different way,” Banks said, explaining the making of the album.
“You see, Miles was very fond of Indian music though he never came to India. Wherever he discovered Indian music in the US, he used them in his recordings and concerts. Miles' musical thought processes had a lot of affinity with Indian music.”
Sivamani, Louis Banks inaugurate Yamaha Music Square
Padma Iyer [February 19, 2009, 5:34:14 PM]
The Yamaha Music Square, a first of its kind music store was inaugurated by world-renowned musicians, jazz artist Louis Banks and ace percussionist Sivamani along with Mr Kozaburo Kume, Managing Director of Yamaha Music India Private Limited, in Chennai, today. This first of its kind music store in Chennai will be the hub for all kinds of musical instruments; pianos, guitars, violins, keyboards, drum kits and many more, for professionals as well as music enthusiasts.
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