Rohan Mehta


September 15 2018
The Revolver Club
Written By The Revolver Club - September 15 2018
August 31 2018
Arohi Chakraborty
Written By Arohi Chakraborty - August 31 2018
It takes years of fastidious sifting through crates to build a collection of records having some musical value. And Eddie Tauro’s collection is nothing short of a treasure trove. Name a priceless record, and chances are Eddie has it.
A retired bank official from Mumbai, Eddie now spends time listening to his carefully curated collection of some of the most coveted titles in music recording history. Blues, jazz, classic rock, folk-rock, R&B and world music make up most of his collection of 3000 records.
Every object in the Tauro household is in its rightful place. The same can be said for records. It’s a little wonder that Eddie doesn't lose an extra second in locating an album. And that’s not all – he remembers track-listings too. Ask his wife if his obsession for records worries her and she will put your doubts to rest – “I don’t mind it at all. In fact, I love it when he plays records of my choice, or from the times when we were young.”
“I am not a record collector”, Eddie claims, which is indisputably true. What started off as a hobby 4 decades ago inevitably turned into a selfless exercise in documenting the evolution of various musical styles. He even owns a large collection of books on them.
Eddie is also well versed with turntables of various pedigrees. He can identify one just by looking at its tonearm in a photograph. That speaks volumes about his attention to detail. And don’t just go by my words – his audio setup comprises of Garrard 301 and 401 turntables, and a pair of Cadence Avita speakers – all in top-notch condition.
Quick facts
Favourite record: Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited
One of his favourite genres: Brit Folk-Rock
Prized records: Bob Dylan/The Band’s Basement Tapes, and a copy of Dave Brubeck’s Jazz Impressions of Eurasia signed by Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond and Joe Morello.
Few titles from his Blue Note original pressings collection: Thelonius Monk's The Genius of Modern Music, Milt Jackson & The Thelonius Monk Quintet, Clifford Jordan's Cliff Craft, Walter Davis' Davis Cup, Donald Byrd's Off To The Races, Sonny Rollins' Newk's Time, Kenny Burrell's Midnight Blue, Art Blakey's Orgy in Rhythm, The Amazing Bud Powell, Jutta Hipp's At the Hickory House, and a bunch of Horace Silver records.
Current hi-fi setup: Garrard 301 with SME III/AT33EV & Garrard 401 with SME3009/ V15VxMR, Cadence Avita speakers, Cadence VA 1.0 HP Amplifier and iFi Phono pre-amp
Previously owned turntables: Linn LP12, and Thorens TD160 Super.
April 12 2017
Arohi Chakraborty
Written By Arohi Chakraborty - April 12 2017
Collector of the week
Sunil Sampat with his most prized record
You may own the rarest of rare jazz records, but you aren’t half as lucky as Sunil Sampat. The gentleman was present at the launch of John Coltrane’s ‘Love Supreme’ at Birdland in 1964. Can it possibly get better?
For those who don’t know, Sunil Sampat is a distinguished jazz aficionado. He has been the Contributing Editor of Rolling Stone magazine for over a decade. His canonical piece on 100 Greatest Jazz Recordings – a primer for those who are new to the genre.
Sunil Sampat with a part of his collection
Sunil owns 9000 records – shellac and vinyl, 95% of which, he says in an unwavering tone, is jazz. John Coltrane continues to be his favourite jazz artist to this day.
“Trane performed Love Supreme twice on the same night at Birdland Jazz Club in New York. After his solo performance, he wished to see his band perform. Now, I was seated at a table near the stage, so he casually asked if he could join me. And then we spoke at length! Someday I will cover that chat in an article”, Sunil revealed.
Copy of Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan at Newport ’63 autographed by Yolande Bavan
His close encounters with the jazz kind are innumerable. As an engineering student in the USA, he met, heard and interviewed some of the greatest names in jazz – Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington and of course, John Coltrane amongst others.
Sunil with Dizzy Gillespie after the latter’s performance in Rang Bhavan, 1985
“Dizzy”, he reminisces, “was a wonderful human being. After a 26-hour flight from Detroit to Bombay, followed by a harrowing time at the airport, and then a performance in Rang Bhavan, he actually took time out to autograph 21 of his albums I owned.”
His wife, Manju Sampat, is also a record collector. “I was concerned that I will be in trouble if the person I marry doesn’t like jazz. But my worries were put to rest after I learned that Manju is also a Ella Fitzgerald fan. Would you believe that I had 50 albums and she had 25 of Ella’s at the time, and there was no overlap! We are truly made for each other!” he says coyly.
Sunil was instrumental in forming Jazz India that organised jazz festivals in the island city. He regularly paired with the legendary cartoonist Mario Miranda to cover several editions of Jazz YATRA. Today, he is on the NCPA Jazz Advisory Committee.
“I am absolutely staggered by the number of young people in India who have started playing mainstream jazz in the last 4 years. So I feel confident of its future.” He maintains a jazz band, Billee On a Holiday – an esoteric ensemble of instrumentalists aged 17-45 years.
Quick facts
Prized records: John Coltrane’s Love Supreme, Dizzy Gillespie’s Dizzy Gillespie & The Double Six of Paris
A few titles from his original pressings collection:
Current hi-fi setup: Garrard 100 Zero S