In a deeply personal act of preservation, drummer and producer Gino Banks has brought his late father’s rare and forgotten recordings back to life for a new generation of listeners.
The Indian jazz icon Louiz Banks, often called the ‘Godfather of Indian Jazz’, passed away in 2022, leaving behind a legacy of over 5,000 songs, innumerable live performances, and a vast archive of unreleased or out-of-print recordings. Now, his son Gino, a celebrated drummer in his own right, has spent months meticulously restoring, mixing, and mastering these compositions for digital release.
From Obscurity to Streaming
The project covers a wide range of material, including albums from the 1990s and early 2000s that had never been properly mastered. One of the standout releases is the album Salsa Nova, an early 2000s recording that blends Latin rhythms with jazz, and features the legendary and late drummer Trilok Gurtu .
“Digitisation of music is not easy. You have to maintain the sonic quality of your music. I have been working on my father’s lost music, old masters, and putting them out into the digital domain,” Gino told Rolling Stone India. “The entire process is rather difficult, but I think it’s a very important thing, so I’m enjoying doing it.”
The revival also includes Live at the Piano, a solo piano concert, and Sax and the City, featuring UK-based Indian saxophonist Vasu Dixit.
A Journey of Discovery and Emotion
The process of sifting through his father’s archives was not just a technical challenge but an emotional journey for Gino. Raised in a musical household, he was listening to and playing music from a very young age. He vividly recalls his father bringing home a stack of LPs, which planted the musical seeds that would lead to his career.
“I remember seeing a record player at home and seeing all these albums, but when I was around six, my dad got the first CD player in the house, bought a bunch of CDs and I started playing albums left, right, and centre,” he recalled. “It opened the door to all kinds of music for me. I started playing drums at the age of eight and I haven’t stopped since.”
The decision to revive these masters was both urgent and emotional. “I had also told him a couple of years ago, before he passed, that I need to get this music out there,” said Gino, who found the task “very therapeutic.”
Louiz Banks’ Enduring Impact
Louiz Banks’ impact on Indian music is monumental. He arranged and played on numerous iconic Bollywood soundtracks and was a mentor to countless musicians. He is remembered not just for his skill, but for his boundless energy.
As Gino recalls, “He literally lived for the music. He had this energy to him that was unique and unmatched. I’m very lucky to have had him as my father.”
