Carlton Kitto: Kolkata's Lost Jazz Legend
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Kolkata has always played an important part in the history of music in India. Bappi Lahiri’s Disco hits, Pritam’s adapted version of Bangla rock, and of course Louis banks, the godfather of Indian Jazz himself are just some of the renowned artists that have received acclaim and admiration on a national level. There is one musician however who has still not gotten his due.
Carlton Kitto was a jazz guitarist from Kolkata, he moved to the city in 1973 when he became a part of the jazz ensemble at the Moulin rouge, an upscale restaurant in Park Street where he started his career.
Carlton valued his ideals more than anything else, devoting himself completely to the craft. “I took up the guitar, not as a profession, it was because of my love for jazz” was what Carlton said in an interview many years ago.
His dedication led him to become one of the finest jazz guitarists in the country. He has played with prominent musicians like Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry, David Leibman, Larry Coryell, Chico Freeman, Charlie Byrd, and Pandit Ravi Shankar.
Yet despite all his achievements not many know of the man's legacy. Carlton Kitto is a Jazz legend that does not deserve to be forgotten.
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