Kumar Chunder Sen, known as KC, recorded jazz in 1940s Calcutta as Japanese air raids shook the city. Musicians raced by horse carriage to exposed studios, diving into trenches at siren wails—sometimes mid-take.
Sen anchored this daring scene. The war correspondent, jazz bandleader, and Band Wagon founder shaped Kolkata’s modern music culture. Their 78 rpm disc for East India War Fund succeeded commercially and philanthropically for years.
Born 1919, Sen bridged worlds: maternal ancestor Lt Gen Sir Edward Barnes of Waterloo fame; paternal link to reformer Brahmananda Keshub Chandra Sen. Jesuit school music room sparked his passion amid talented sisters—a pianist, ballerina, radio singer.
Teen Sen debuted on swinging Park Street at San Souci Theatre. The pianist-guitarist grew into multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, bandleader. Band Wagon revues lit up venues like Oberoi Grand.
Sen thrived as cultural jack-of-all-trades amid chaos.
