Jain Spirit 2003 12 No 17

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 45

YOUTH
Musical Expression
MUSICAL EXPRESSION
1
For drummer and composer Sunny Jain, anekant opens the door to musical creativity CUSIC IS A VERY
festivals, but more than anything, I am spiritual thing. My lifestyle
a believer in the spiritual values of Ladheres to the belief of
Jainism. I continue to be vegetarian minimal consumption of goods and
because of my firm belief in the value products. I'm not interested in making
of life and minimising killing or loads of money and having the biggest
destruction. I also try to be as environhouse on the street with several
mentally conscious as possible because expensive cars. I'm interested in playing
of my awareness and respect for how music and living within my means. I'm
the ecosystem works. The way my very happy doing this." So says Sunny
parents taught me Jainism was that the Jain, a passionate young jazz musician
religion is very open-minded and whose star is most certainly in the
tolerant of differing opinions, lifestyles ascendant. His group, the Sunny Jain
or religions. This idea of anekantvada Collective, released its debut album As Is
(multiplicity of viewpoints) is the main to critical acclaim last year, and he
thing I draw upon from Jainism. This, himself has long been making a name for
above all, leads my life." himself in jazz circles, having played
The spirit of anekantvada clearly with such luminaries as Ted Dunbar,
infuses Sunny's musical outlook: "I'm Kenny Barron and Earl May.
Living to an ancient rhythm:
always open to new possibilities of
jazz drummer Sunny Jain As Sunny observes, his music and
creation. I never like to be closedlifestyle are inextricably linked. He Jain bhajans allowed me to reconcile minded in terms of how music can be listens to life with a percussionist's ear, with the difficulties of growing up in a played. I like to play music and not detecting seeds of creativity where Western world with traditional Indian boxed-up styles." A believer in the most of us would simply hear noise: parents. Music became the bridge that idea of music without boundaries, "I'm a musician 24 hours of the day, 7 could connect the two cultures I felt Sunny's definition of his genre, jazz, is days a week. It can be as simple as were worlds apart when growing up. also open-minded: “the word jazz walking down the street to a deli and Music was the one thing I could find doesn't imply a style anymore, but hearing the rhythm of a jackhammer solace in as I searched for my identity rather a non-discriminatory approach working on a pothole. My mind as an Indian-American.
to playing. I listen to Indian music, functions as a musician all the time.
Now, as I compose and play music, African music, Brazilian music, drum That's how I perceive the world."
I find myself naturally wanting to & bass, Brit-pop, and also 'jazz'. Jazz Sunny recalls that he was exposed infuse elements of the Indian music I isn't just about swing as some folks to different kinds of music from an grew up with. For instance, on my would like to uphold, it's also about early age, from Jain bhajans to New latest album I arranged the Ghandiji improvisation, spirit and converOrder and The Cure, reflecting the bhajan, Raghupati. I wanted to do this sation." In the future, Sunny would multicultural environment he grew up song for two separate reasons. The love to collaborate with musicians as in: "Both my Indian heritage and my first was that the melody was diverse as Zakir Hussain and Jain background have manifested something I grew up with as I learned Radiohead. This aspiration, along with themselves in my music and my to recite the Navkar Mantra to it. It's a the multicultural stamp on his latest aspirations, just as my upbringing has catchy melody and one that has always album, emphasises just how important in America. All my experiences in life stuck with me. The second reason was a creative force anekantvuda is for have naturally shaped my personality, its historical significance. This song Sunny. 2 but growing up with bhajans and was popularised during the freedom Indian music in the household has fights of the 1940s against British rule.
Sunny Jain is a drummer, composer particularly had a direct impact on me To me, this song represents the pride 1
and educator living in New York City. as a musician. There are certain sounds have in being Indian and the struggle of
He plays with the Sunny Jain that I'm drawn to because of growing being a minority in America."
Collective, whose album "As Is" is up with the sound of the tabla, or the Jainism continues to influence
available on NCM East Records. To melody of a certain bhajan. Attaching Sunny in the lifestyle choices he
learn more about Sunny, visit myself to elements of Indian music and makes: “I observe certain Jain
www.jainsounds.com
PHOTO: SERGIO ROYZEN
December 2003 - February 2004 • Jain Spirit
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