Piano man jazzes it up

Pianist, composer and arranger and now piano instructor, Sharik Hasan is back in the city with a bang! The musical genius is all set to deliver a high voltage performance at Alliance Francaise on September 9. In a chat with us, the artiste talks about what it’s like to perform with musical icons and be star struck and his love for the city, among other things…

Sharik’s first tryst with the piano started at the age of just five, but it’s not what he wanted to pursue, he reveals.

 “When I played the piano here, I wasn’t very inspired by my teachers because it was all about exams. And even though I liked playing the piano, I became disinterested and disillusioned. Then I moved to the US for college, where I was majoring in a lot of things and heard some really great musicians perform in the campus, which reignited my interest,” says Sharik who only decided to get serious about music at 21! “I heard jazz being played in a way I had never before – it was unpredictable and exciting and inspired me to start taking lessons in the field.”

His sound has transformed over the years and has become more experimental. “I have always liked styles like Pop, Funk, Hindustani and Carnatic so it’s only natural for them be a part of the melodies I create. But the process of creating it is very organic and not deliberate — though at times I have tried to consciously include them in my music,” quips Sharik before quickly adding, “In New York, everybody is a great pianist so I need to bring something unique to the table, to set myself apart. So I chose to include my heritage into my music.”

Having shared the stage with a number of musical luminaries such as John Patitucci, Joe Lovano, Terri Carrington and David Liebman, has Sharik ever been starstruck? “I have been starstruck by a number of people I have performed alongside with, and in those situations I have been too respectful of them, which I think is detrimental because once you’re on stage, everybody is equal and everybody is giving it their best. But I do try to keep an open ear and be attentive and receptive and bring something unite to the stage too,” reveals Sharik who is also excited to back in the city.

“I spent my childhood in Bengaluru and it’s always nice to be back. I try to keep myself free on trips only performing once or twice because I want to kick back and relax and spend time with and catch up with my friends and family,” he says warmly. But does he ever feel homesick? “No, because I know I’ll be coming back soon enough and that keeps me going.”