International Jazz Day: Why you need to attend World Jazz Festival in Mumbai

Dave Brubeck Duke Ellington Dizzy Gillespie The names of jazz legends that once toured Mumbai roll off with the smoothness of a barline shift So the arrival of the World Jazz Festival on the 12th International Jazz Day is in keeping with traditionNandini Mahesh director of Banyan Tree Events mdash the platform that is hosting the third edition of the festival with Amersfoort Jazz Festival mdash shares ldquoThe idea was to create a rich experience for the audiencerdquo The city also provides a ldquosubstantial audience for jazzrdquo that is exciting for young talent she remarksThe twoday festival which begins today will witness the diverse jazz influences of Lucas Santana and Quartet Sven Rozier Quintet with Lizzy Ossevoort and Baer Traa as well as the Susanne Alt band take the stage The multicity festival will be arriving in the city after having travelled to Delhi Pune and Bengaluru earlier this weekSven Rozier Pic CourtesyInstagram right Nandini MaheshRozier a frequent visitor to India describes Jazz as Indian food mdash exciting fused together and constantly evolving ldquoYou take the best ingredients and blend them together There are many musical technical intellectual and emotional elements that are happening simultaneouslyrdquoRozierrsquos analogy has a historical connection The city has always had a special place for jazz From Chic Chocolate Frank Fernand to Anthony Gonsalves the roster of city legends goes on But amid the rise of spectacular music fests and commercial interests is the genre being crowded outRajeev Raja right Rajesh PunjabiA new renaissanceNot at all says Rajesh Punjabi musician and cofounder of the Bombay Jazz Club He explains ldquoThe scene has definitely expanded There is a lot more talent and younger musicians are experimenting with the genrerdquoFlautist Rajeev Raja calls it a revival of the genre ldquoToday I can see a revival Things had begun to pick up even before the pandemic but now the number of young musicians who have emerged on the jazz circuit is fantasticrdquo he points outRaja however believes that the genre is continually evolving ldquoPeople are no longer rigid about traditional jazz There is more original stuff and fusion emergingrdquohe saysPunjabi recalls Coltranersquos famous quote in saying ldquoYou call it jazz For me it is just music It is different for different peoplerdquoMix of people and spacesKolkatabased drummer Arjun Chakraborty says it is growing ldquoIt the jazz scene has exploded over the last few years The key difference is the luxury of venuesrdquo Bassist Avishek Dey also from Kolkata agrees ldquoThere are multiple venues where music takes an exclusive priorityrdquo he points out Dey adds that even venue owners focus on music as an exclusive property not an accompaniment to food and beverageNevil Timbadia cofounder of Bandra hub Bonobo attributes this to awareness ldquoPeople are more exposed today They are aware of new artistes venues and formsrdquoCloseknit tiesTimbadia elaborates ldquoThe elitism is gone If the audience wants it the venues will organise itrdquo This awareness has also empowered venues and promoters ldquoAn informal circuit has been created between venues and promoters across the city and the countryrdquo he saysChakraborty says this thriving collaboration helps both mdash venues and musicians ldquoI am pretty new to Mumbai but I have played with most of the veterans in the jazz scenerdquo he sharesFor Dey Mumbai remains the best city for jazz today ldquoHere you have an opportunity to express yourself Everyone connects to the music mdash from Latin jazz andbebop to fusion and contemporary formsrdquoMahesh agrees ldquoIn Mumbai there are always a lot of events happening as they should considering it is a large city with a diverse population But those who love jazz will continue to love itrdquoThis weekend will be evidence of this connection which goes onON April 29 and 30 630 pm onwardsAT Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir off Linking Road near Patwardhan Park Bandra WestLOG ON TO inbookmyshowcomCOST Rs 885 onwardsBring on the sound International Jazz DayOn April 30 630 pmAt Tata Theatre NCPA Nariman PointLog on to inbookmyshowcomCost Rs 500 onwards The Bandra Jazz FestivalOn April 29 and 30 10 amAt Veranda Bandra WestLog on to insiderinCost Rs 1000 onwards for gigs listening sessions free Ertha by Tawiah and AI MooreOn April 29 and 30 8 pm onwardsAt G5A Mahalaxmi WestLog On To insiderinCost Rs 499 onwards