‘Bombay Experience’ to stage concert and masterclass in Dhaka

Alliance Française de Dhaka is set to host a special international jazz concert featuring acclaimed artistes from several countries. Titled "Alexandre Herer's Bombay Experience", the event will take place tomorrow, December 3, at 7 pm at the Liberation War Museum auditorium in Agargaon. A follow-up masterclass has been scheduled for December 4 at the Alliance Française office in Dhanmondi.

A cross-cultural musical collaboration

"Bombay Experience" is a unique collaborative project that blends Carnatic rhythm, Indian hip-hop and contemporary jazz. The line-up includes French pianist Alexandre Herer, drummer Pierre Mangeard and bassist Gael Petrina, alongside Indian mridangam maestro BC Manjunath and rapper Manmeet Kaur.

The project began in 2023 after Herer encountered Mumbai's rap and beatbox scene during a visit. Later that year, he met Manjunath at a masterclass in France, where Manjunath highlighted the mathematical precision of Carnatic rhythm and its unexpected synergy with Herer's compositional style. Their partnership eventually evolved into a full-fledged collaboration, debuting in March 2024 at the Détours de Babel Festival in Grenoble. The group released a seven-track album on June 27.

The live performances of "Bombay Experience" combine elements of Indian classical tradition, modern hip-hop and jazz improvisation. The ensemble's work is notable for its rhythmic complexity, contemplative mood and emphasis on spontaneous creativity.

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Following the concert, Alexandre Herer, BC Manjunath and Manmeet Kaur will lead a two-hour masterclass at Alliance Française de Dhaka in Dhanmondi. The session—open to music enthusiasts, students and emerging artistes—will cover Herer's approaches to rhythm and cross-genre composition, Manjunath's Carnatic talas and konnakol techniques, and Kaur's exploration of rap, language and creative process.

The masterclass will run from 10 am to 12 pm.