India's own Jazz legend Carlton Kitto passes away in Kolkata

Acclaimed jazz musician Carlton Kitto passed away in Kolkata on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 74.

The guitarist's passing away was confirmed by Calcutta School of Music's President Dickoo Nowroji. Kitto used to teach jazz at the establishment.

Kitto collaborated with jazz legends like Sonny Rollins, Chico Freeman, Charlie Byrd, and Indian musicians like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Louiz Banks.

The Bebop jazz guitarist had also played for Queen Elizabeth.

Born in Bengaluru (then Bangalore) in 1942, Kitto started his career in Chennai and moved to Kolkata in the 1970s, and became a part of the band, Jazz Ensemble in Moulin Rouge, a celebrated restaurant in posh Park Street.

After sometime, he played in another well-known restaurant Mocambo (and subsequently in other places) and taught jazz and classical guitar at the Calcutta School of Music in the 1990s.

Nowroji said the school plans to do a commemorative programme next month as a tribute to Kitto, who spent the last days of his life in a dingy apartment in Alimuddin Street.

Cyrus Oshidar, MD of 101India.com, who made the documentary short "Carlton Kitto: The Last of Kolkata's Jazz Legends" about the jazz icon condoled his death on Facebook.

"Today we say goodbye to one of the last Jazz legends of our country #RIPCarltonKitto," Oshidar said.

#RIP #CarltonKitto one of the first #jazzguitar players from #Kolkata

— Ehsaan Noorani (@EhsaanNoorani) November 28, 2016

#Carlton Kitto the great #Bebop #Guitarist from #Kolkata is no more. Goodbye Sir thanks for the magic.

— Suhrid Chattopadhyay (@suhridsankar) November 28, 2016

RIP sir #carltonkitto ..a huge loss for music..

— Paulami (@singerpaulami1) November 28, 2016

Few Indian musicians stayed as true to their roots, for as long a time, as Carlton Kitto. A scene hero to look up to, if ever there was one.

— Arjun S Ravi (@arjun_s_ravi) November 28, 2016

Jazz lost a legend today..
RIP #CarltonKitto..

— Shréstha.. (@ShresthaBhaduri) November 28, 2016

#Kolkata loses a jazz legend. Farewell to a Park Street institution #CarltonKitto https://t.co/NOVoFv9mDh

— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) November 29, 2016

IANS inputs