'I don't follow any rules'

Multi-talented percussionist Jonqui tells CT that as far as music is concerned, experimenting is more fun than following a particular code You have an interesting name, Jonqui. So, who named you?
(Laughs) My real name is Dibyajyoti Dutta and as you know I come from Jorhat, Assam. There's a very popular Assamese play called Miri Diori and I was named after the hero, Jongky.This used to be my nickname given to me by my father. My friend and Brazilian ballet dancer, Klara, had advised me to change my name to Jongky. It was something to do with numerology and I decided to keep it as my professional name as well. One day, a tabloid printed Jongky as Jonqui by mistake and it's been that way ever since.
When did you begin your training
? I was always musically inclined. I used to play on the dining table. My father recognised my talent and I started learning tabla when I was in Class IV. After I completed my graduation, my father sent me to Mumbai to learn tabla from Ustad Zakir Hussain. But, as luck would have it, I became the disciple of Ustad Alla Rakha. He taught me for two years.
Tell us something about your initial years in Mumbai.
It was full of struggle. I am talking about 1995. I needed money to survive and my father had done so much for me already, I did not wish to pressurise him further. So, I started to freelance. I used to play the tabla for singers who sing ghazals in hotels. I also used to play the tabla at various musical recordings.
From playing tabla to becoming a multi-percussionist … it's been a long journey...
Yes, that it has been. I have always been in love with the tabla. You can achieve so much with it, but it is only from the year 2000, that I started playing various other instruments including Assamese Nagara, Timbali, Bhur Taal, Kastur, Djembe, Darbuka, Indian and Afro Duff. I have no formal training in either of them, I just play. I love to experiment and my motto in life is 'Do not follow rules' .
You have been associated with some of the biggies of the industry - Anaida, DJ Whosane, DJ Akbar Sami. You have even played with Kailasa...
I am blessed. I have played the tabla in Anaida's album. My association with DJ Whosane, goes back a long way. I have worked with him extensively. When he was working on his album Moksh, he had asked me to play for him. Subsequently, I got the opportunity to work with DJ Akbar Sami. I have also been featured on Sami's album Jalwa. It was also during my struggling years that I befriended Kailash Kher. Like me, he too was a struggler. We used to perform at various jalsas . And then we lost touch. Then one day, I met him at this club where I was performing and by then Allah Ke Bande had become a huge hit. We renewed our friendship and when he formed Kailasa with Paresh and Naresh Kamath, Kailash asked me to play for them. Of late, I have not been able to play with them on a regular basis because I have been real busy with my performances.
You really enjoy jamming with the DJs, don't you?
Yes, it's live, it's spontaneous and I really really enjoy it. Whenever you go to a disc, you get to hear the DJ churning out popular Bolly numbers or you get to listen house, pop, funky, progressive or club music. We wanted to take this 'grooving' experience, one step further . When I jam with the DJs live in Mumbai and now when I go abroad, you can see that the revellers are initially surprised, but they soon begin to jive and they wait to hear the next instrument that I will be playing. but, this takes practice and the instrument that I am playing has to complement the music that the DJ is playing. It's about rhythmic co-ordination .
So, what are your future plans?
I am getting calls to perform abroad, plus I have my commitments in Mumbai. Also, I am planning to cut an album. I feel that these days, musicians make albums meant only for the musicians . I want to make an album for the masses, something that will make them put on their dancing shoes.
What do you like to do besides make people dance?
I love to spend time with my three-year-old son. I want to be a good father, just like my dad was.