A few days before the Mahindra Blues Festival (MBF) was held at Bandra's Mehboob Studio on 11^th and 12^th February 2023, Kolkata-based Arinjoy Sarkar had said, "It's an honour to be on the same flyer as legends Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal, who are my idols". Of course, things didn't end there as he stole hearts over various appearances on the two days.

The band The Arinjoy Trio, with Arinjoy on vocals and guitar, Aakash Ganguly on bass and Sounak Roy on drums, opened the proceedings with a tight 45-minute set that one wished had lasted longer. The following day, the outstanding young star Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram invited Arinjoy to join him on his That's What You Do. In some memorable moments, the American gave the Indian musician plenty of time and space on a solo, after which the duo had an exciting interface. The icing on the cake, of course, was when Arinjoy joined Buddy, Taj, Christone and the other performer, Argentinian Ivan Singh, on the all-star jam that concluded the festival.

This was Arinjoy's fifth appearance at a Mahindra event in Mumbai. In 2018, the Trio won the Mahindra Blues Band Hunt, and the following year, the band launched its self-titled CD besides doing a set. In 2020, Arinjoy played with the Homegrown Blues Collective specially put up by Rudy Wallang, guitarist of Shillong band Soulmate. Last year, Arinjoy also joined Soulmate and others at the Mahindra Blues Special, featuring Indian acts at the Bay view Lawns, Mazgaon.

Obviously, the band is going places, with fans already putting them next in line to carry forward the Indian blues tradition, so far helmed by Soulmate, led by Wallang and vocalist Tipriti Kharbangar, and Blackstratblues, the brainchild of guitarist Warren Mendonsa,

With that background in mind, it would be advisable for Indian blues fans to check out the vinyl edition of the Arinjoy Trio album, released last year by Kolkata's Free Street School Records, a label promoted by Aveek Chatterjee and Rajiv Pandey. It has been specially mastered for vinyl in Dallas by Pandey, and pressed in Europe on audiophile virgin vinyl. Sales and distribution are being handled by the Revolver Club, Mumbai. Included in the packaging is a four-page insert with colour poster, bios, photos and lyrics, besides a note on the vinyl mastering.

Besides songs from the original CD, the vinyl contains two bonus tracks, recorded from live concerts. The new master has a far greater dynamic range, and also stresses on the thick sound of the blues. All songs have been written, composed and arranged by Arinjoy. Besides the core trio, the album features guest appearances by guitarists Amyt Datta and Rohan Ganguli, and keyboardist Arunava Chatterjee. 

The LP begins with Cold, Cold, Cold, which starts with a short guitar riff before Arinjoy sings, "Cold, cold, cold, baby that's what you are, well, I thought I could take it, but now you've gone too far". With smooth guitar work, the song has a quintessential Chicago blues vibe.

Next up is the slow blues Nothing Good's Ever Gonna Last, which has an incisive solo and some artistic fill-ins. Besides the studio version, the LP contains a live recording from the Kolkata Jazz Fest, 2020.

Baby You're So Fine peps up the tempo again, with its Hollywood-styled arrangement. You're the one for me baby, there ain't nobody else", sings Arinjoy. This song has a live version too. It is followed by the melodic instrumental Late Night Secrets, which begins with a steady drum line and gets on to the main melody. The track has a guest appearance by Amyt.

Side A concludes with Don't You Leave Me Behind, a love song with the lines, "O babe, don't you leave me behind, a woman like you surely hard to find, can't you wait for a while, do you really have to go, 'cause my world without ain't no fun for sure?". Of course, the song ends with so-long, farewell and hope.

The second side starts with another instrumental Beyond The Lines, the kind of composition you'd love playing late into the night. Sounak's drumming is tight, and the guitar passage is fluid, leading to a charged-up climax.

There's a shift in style on Who You Are, which is more blues-rock, with a lightning-speed intro and catchy hook. The song has tongue-in-cheek lines like, "Shower all your compliments on people who you hate, 'cause they're the ones who pull the strings and they'll decide your fate" and "Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, sell your soul to survive". A smart tempo change in the middle of the song adds variety.

While the last-mentioned track may be clubbed in the modern blues category, the rest of the album has its roots clearly in the more traditional format. Arinjoy has a lovely Fender tone, and his composition and guitar work show influences of Freddie King, Albert Collins and Robert Cray. Much of his style has also been moulded by Amyt, his second guitar teacher. And with his animated and rapidly-changing facial expressions, he also possesses a distinct stage personality.

Besides songs from the album, the Trio's set at MBF included the Cray-inspired Alibi and an instrumental called Blues For Kirk, dedicated to American guitarist Kirk Fletcher. The group is now ready to release a four-track EP this year.

Arinjoy earlier played with the group Jack Rabbit. One thing led to another, and the Trio was formed. While Arinjoy writes the lyrics and composition, the others offer suggestions, and they run the new material with Amyt. The front man says, "We are three musicians who are serious about our craft, and we have a common approach to the blues. We are also very good friends". From their stage chemistry, it shows.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Narendra Kusnur

Narendra Kusnur has been a music journalist for three decades, covering different genres for various publications and websites. He’s also been with the music industry as Manager for EMI Music India for two years and has been involved with training for books and music stores.