Andrea
“Drumming is more than just a talent,” anonymous. “It requires dedication and discipline to achieve not only your goals but those of your team too.” Ranjit Barot is one drummer who has proven this point. He is an Indian film score composer, music director, music arranger, drummer, and singer. You can say he is an all-in-one package when it comes to film and music.
Guitar legend John McLaughlin described Barot as “one of the leading figures in the drumming scene.” He has been a member of John McLaughlin and the 4th Dimension for several years now, with which he has been touring Europe.
Ranjit Barot was born in India with a musical background. His family is rooted in Indian classical music and dance. Hence, melody and rhythm have always been a part of his system. It’s no wonder that he has greatly impacted the music industry. In 1980, the drummer performed at the Jazz in Yatra, Europe, under Jazz Yatra Sextet, alongside Louis Banks. At the same time, he was performing with Pandit Ravi Shankar’s ensemble. During this time, the drummer traveled extensively across Europe and to the West in the company of top Indian jazz/pop and classical music artists. He was part of the team that performed at European festivals in 1980 and 1982.
As stated at the beginning, Ranjit is not only a drummer. He is also a talented composer and music producer. He has set in place his own state-of-the-art studio in Mumbai, from where he has worked on a wide range of projects with high-profile musicians.
That is not all; Ranjit has been a renowned drummer and arranger for R.D Burman, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, and many other artists. His influence extends from Anu Malik and Ismail Darbar’s times to modern times as producers and arrangers. The drummer has been an essential part of some work from A.R Rahman over the years. His performance with the Jazz Yatra Sextet at the Jazz Yatra in 1980 painted him as one of the most sought-after drummers. He has also worked with performers like John McLaughlin, Jonas Helborg, and Ayden Esen.
One of his major works is the debut album “Bada Boom,’ of 2010, which is still worldwide. The album features musicians from India and many others from the West. It carries a collection of his Jazz Fusion and World compositions featuring Ustad Zakir Hussain, John McLaughlin, U.Srinivas, U.Rajesh, Sanjay Divecha, and Tim Garland, among others.
Ranjit has worked with some of the greatest brands in the world. He was the music composer and sound designer for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010. He represented India at the “India Inclusive” showcase at WEF, Davos 2011. Furthermore, he worked on both the opening and closing ceremonies, which added more stars to his head as a global figure.
Ranjit Barot continues to influence the world as one of the best drummers and talented artists. His impact on the music scene is incredible.
