The city plays host to a night of jazz where two American musicians will show you how they've been redefining music by the Beatles, with a little help from Ustad Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain
The city plays host to a night of jazz where two American musicians will show you how they've been redefining music by the Beatles, with a little help from Ustad Allah Rakha and Zakir Hussain
The late American jazz pianist William John Evans had an interesting definition of the kind of music he played. He referred to jazz as a mental attitude, rather than a style. "It uses a certain process of the mind expressed spontaneously through some musical instrument," he once explained. "I'm concerned with retaining that process."
A search for that attitude is, in effect, what continues to draw all kinds of people to jazz festivals the world over. You can get a taste of it too, if you mosey down to the Seagram's 100 Pipers Jazz Utsav 2009 being held in Mumbai this weekend.
One of the headliners is BeatleJazz, featuring David Kikoski on piano, Peter Barshay on bass and Brian Melvin on drums and percussion. Why the name BeatleJazz? Brian says he came up with it years ago to help people get the message clearly, from the get go.
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Other big names under the spotlight at the three-city India tour include Wayne Krantz and Anthony Jackson of the legendary Steely Dan, the Nils Olav Johansen Quartet and Eric Vloeimans Quartet.
Assuming BeatleJazz has performed in India before, we ask how appreciative of jazz audiences usually are. Brian says he it has always been a gratifying experience.
"The Beatles have always had a beautiful relationship with India," he says, "They were responsible for many in the West hearing Indian music." He was clearly one of the many listening.
"I have been playing tabla and Indian hand drums for over 30 years," he continues, "and my first teacher was Ustad Allah Rakha, followed by his son Zakir Hussain."
We wonder how jazz is currently evolving. Are there still innovators? Brian is happy to report, there are. "I feel BeatleJazz is in the heart of new jazz," he adds, "in the sense that we are modern players and know the history of both sides of the music." He wants audiences at the trio's gig this weekend to expect some great music.
"This is a very special tour for me," he says, "so I have prepared music to bring people to high spiritual places."
At: Priyadarshini Park, Napeansea Road on November 21. Entry: Rs 500 per head. Gates open at 6 pm, performance from 6.30 pm to 10 pm. For details about the schedule, performers and tickets, log on to https://jazzutsavfestival.com
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