Biography

The Latination is one of the only virtuoso and genuine salsa and Latin-jazz band in India. The quartet is a soulful and powerful combination of French and Indian specialists of jazz and Latin music. The Latination has already performed all over India and received accolades and great critics from audiences and fellow musicians. Its repertoire ranges from salsa and rumba to modern jazz, blending the dance-compelling power of Afro-Latin rhythms with the dense harmonies and sophisticated melodies. Emmanuel Simon is a versatile musician from Paris, initially trained as a western classical pianist. He has received his academic degrees in Western Musicology, Western Classical and Modern Music. He also has a masters’ degree in Instrumental Music from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and is now attending a Ph.D. on Bengali Folk Percussions. He is nowadays a multi-talented percussionist. He has a wide knowledge in various musical cultures such as western, West African, Afro-Cuban and Indian percussions. He has performed with many French and Latin masters of Latin music. He has also been performing in Europe and South Asia with many different artists as well. In India, he has performed in various auditoriums such as Kamani Auditorium (Delhi), Chowdia Hall (Bangalore), Birla Sabhaghar (Kolkata), Blue Frog (Delhi), etc. and at various festivals such World Percussion Festival (Delhi), Kolkata Jazz Festival, Bengaluru International Arts Festival, Calcutta International Dance Fiesta, etc. His music through his compositions has even been broadcasted on different TV channels in USA, Japan and Europe. Pradyumna Singh Manot a.k.a. Paddy (keyboards) is one of India's most talented jazzmen and piano player. Since childhood, he has been extensively studying Western Classical, jazz, Latin, Latin-jazz and North Indian classical music. He has been a regular artist of the Congo Square Jazz Festival for past 8 years. He has also performed abroad including the world's biggest jazz festival, The Java Jazz Festival where he was appreciated by some of the great names of jazz such including George Benson, Roy Hargrove and Joey de Francesco. He has performed with many jazz artists, star bassist and Indian guitar legends. Paddy is also a founder member of the Latin-jazz bands Los Amigos and Jazzeando. He is also associated with the Salsa dance institute named Mambo City. Premjit Dutta (Timbales) is a bright percussionist of a new generation. He started his musical journey training on tabla, graduated eventually receiving Sangeet Bisharod in Tabla from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad. He then started studying Western Music, graduating in Drumkit and Theory of Music from Trinity College and Royal College. He has also been studying Afro-Cuban percussion from the veteran conguero, Monojit Datta. He is currently teaching Drumkit and Theory of Music at Calcutta School of Music (CSM), Calcutta Centre for Communication and Creativity (C4) and St Xavier’s School in Kolkata. He has recorded and performed in India and abroad with Los Amigos (latin-jazz), The Bodhisattva Ghosh Trio (jazz-fusion). He has also worked as session musician across India in major festivals and events. He is presently working with alternative/indie outfit Camouflage (brit-pop), jazz-funk band No Idea, the Big Family Blues Ensemble, etc. Also, he is a regular artist in All India Radio. Bijit Bhattacharya (bass guitar) is one of the most talented bass players in Kolkata, involved in studio sessions as well as the live music scene. He has been a permanent member of bands like Safire, Catch 22, etc. He has also performed with nationally acclaimed folk-fusion act, Friends of Fusion, and also with Latin act, Nukkad Salsa Project and Crayon Joint. He has been playing sessions with and for filmmaker Anjan Dutt, singer/songwriter Anupam Roy and music director Neel Dutt. Bijit is currently making music with Charon, Bee & The Buskers, etc. Guest artist, Megan Powers (vocals) is a singer/songwriter based in New York City. Her jazz career found its start in Igor Butman’s iconic Moscow jazz haunt in an impromptu jam session with Igor and his band. She is honored to have sung with the likes of Igor, Jon Christopher Allen, Ben Paterson, the Anthony Cekay Trio, Henry Colle, Drue Barron, Marissa Dwyer, and Paul Beaubrun of Zing Experience. Megan, with her amazing timber, powerful voice, soulful interpretation of jazz standards of any kind as well as her ever steady musical abilities, have made her the part of New York's new most promising talents and singers.