Fusion player with panache

Kaiser on keyboard, with his band performing at Alliance Francaise

"My music is not loud and does not make any political statement. I try to keep my songs true to the character and grammar of the composition. The sensibilities of my surroundings lend a third dimension to the creations," says Kaiser. Classical and western modern music go to mould him, as is the case of some of our local band leaders, who have won the hearts of listeners and connoisseurs of creative fusion music in Bangladesh.

Elements and subtlety from Lalon to Lennon, Shamsur Rahman to Kahlil Gibran, from Dhaka to Kolkata : "All is grist that comes to the mill" for the enterprising Kaiser. "I also combine themes and subjects from Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, along with the passion of Rembrandt, Marc Chagall and Paul Gauguin," Kaiser says. The fluidity of his music presents the beauty and sensitivity of the best elements of international culture. The final impact of his songs is both dashing and daring.

Kaiser goes all out to combine his frustrations, hopes, aggravation and annoyances, as he puts in, with unusual grace. When cacophony is often the style of our pop stars, his brand of experimentation brings in unmitigated admiration. His debut album, Chira Harith Maanush (Evergreen man) presents his elan vital.

For years he has been playing continuously, and dreaming of a paradise of happy melodies and mental images. His book of poems, Aankasher Staff Notation, similarly speaks of euphoria with musical notes.