The beat of drums echoed through the streets of Mumbai as the much-anticipated Mumbai Drum Day 2024 - Drums Festival concluded on Saturday, 10th February 2024 at the prestigious Sri Shanmukhananda Chandrasekarendra Saraswathi Auditorium, Sion.

The concert dedicated to the Drum set is curated by the Extraordinaire, Visionary and most Celebrated Drummer Gino Banks and like previous years has always had a great line-up of performances. This year was no exception. Celebrating rhythm, culture, and community, the event attracted thousands of attendees from near and far, solidifying its place as a highlight in the city's cultural calendar.

From electrifying performances by renowned drumming ensembles to engaging and interactive demonstrations, the festival offered a diverse range of experiences for both seasoned percussionists and curious newcomers. Attendees were treated to an immersive journey through the world of drumming, exploring rhythms from across the globe and experiencing the vibrant energy of live music.

The evening began with Banks requesting the audience to observance a moment of silence paying tribute to the late Franco Vaz who passed away on 7th February at the age of 69. Interestingly, Vaz was one of the performers at the Mumbai Drum Day a few years ago and is best known for his work with legendary Bollywood composer RD Burman.

The music began soon after, and what a night it was. The opening act was by well-known artist Varun Venkit and the Taal Inc. Rhythm Ensemble feat with Anand Bhagat. The four-piece ensemble created a magnificent mélange of sounds that was well received by the audience. Next on the setlist was Nitin Shankar’s Percussion Family. Shankar, who had spent nearly eight years with Pancham in the late eighties, fuses Latin, African, and Cuban percussion styles as well as Indian classical and folk music. The group received applause for their well-developed percussion set.

Next on was the Ta Dhom Project by Viveick Rajagopalan.  In his Ta Dhom project, the two syllables/sounds are “Ta” and “Dhom” and symbolize the idea of two worlds, two ideas, and two cultures. When on stage, the mridangam maestro Rajagopalan creates a new sub-genre of Indian hip-hop, using the rhythmic language of konnakol from the classical Carnatic tradition as a foundation for the rhythmic poetry of urban rap. Viveick was joined by three rappers consisting of MC Dehaati aka Akash Pandey (who will rap in Bhojpuri), MC Artslord aka Kalaivanan Kannan (Tamil) and MC Khoj aka Ganesh Sonkamble (Marathi and Hindi). You couldn’t miss out the two Maharashtrian ladies comprising SawangiSavdekar and Yamini Khamkar banging on the dhols.

The multifaceted Maestro Ranjit Barot was next as the penultimate act for the evening. The ace drummer performed with Nastya Saraswati, a musician from St. Petersburg, Russia, who has made India her home and who finds her forte in Indian Classical Music.The duo gave an outstanding performance with Nastya on the violin playing the high notes with practiced ease.

The last act for the evening was what everyone was waiting for. The legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain with Gino Banks and guitarist Rhythm Shaw was top notch. This was probably Hussain’s first ever performance after winning three Grammy awards a week ago.

The trio played three songs, namely Valor and Khandum Blues, both Shaw’s compositions. The finale saw the Godfather of Jazz Louiz Banks on stage, joined by all the artists who performed earlier in the evening taking the stage for the traditional jam session. It was a great sight to watch all the artists together and play once again.

"We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to this year's Mumbai Drum Day 2024 now in its 6th edition” said Gino Banks while adding, "It's been truly inspiring to see people of all ages and backgrounds come together to celebrate the universal language of rhythm. The festival has not only showcased incredible talent but has also fostered a sense of unity and connection within our community. My vision and the success of Mumbai Drum Day 2024 is a culmination of rhythm, passion, brotherhood and pure magic”.

With luminaries like Ustad Zakir Hussain and Maestro Ranjit Barot, alongside the mesmerizing performances of Rhythm Shaw, Ta Dhom Project, Nitin Shankar’s Percussion Family, Nastya Saraswati and Taal Inc., the stage was ablaze with musical brilliance. Adding to the excitement, my Guru Ji and father Louiz Banks joined us for an unforgettable finale. With a full house audience pulsating with energy, and our wonderful host, my wife Eden, guiding us through the evening, and the tireless dedication of our incredible Mumbai Drum Day team - The Event Company, Ginger PR and Furtados Music- Mumbai Drum Day 2024 became more than just a concert—it became a testament to the power of music to unite, inspire, and uplift said Gino Banks, son of legendary jazz pianist Louiz Banks.

Gino stated “We extend our sincerest gratitude to Furtados Music for their steadfast support of Mumbai Drum Day since its inception, providing invaluable backline musical equipment and unwavering artist support. Their dedication to empowering musicians and fostering the growth of the music industry has been integral to the success of our event. We are immensely grateful for their partnership and ongoing commitment to enriching the musical landscape of our community."