Mumbai's Jazz aficionados have never had it this good. After Talvin Singh, Louiz Banks and Larry Carlton rocked their world last weekend, this Saturday will see the likes of two Norwegian acts, Gumbo and Mari Kvien Brunvoll perform along with one of India's favourite jazz musicians, Ranjit Barot and his band
Mumbai's Jazz aficionados have never had it this good. Afteru00a0 Talvin Singh, Louiz Banks and Larry Carlton rocked their world last weekend, this Saturday will see the likes of two Norwegian acts, Gumbo and Mari Kvien Brunvoll perform along with one of India's favourite jazz musicians, Ranjit Barot and his band
"It's hard for Jazz musicians in Mumbai. What with such few venues, lack of funds and avenues to support their case. Plus, there's the Hindi film industry and popular culture that dominates the music landscape here," says Ranjit Barot en route for his sound check before Saturday's big nite that will bring down the curtains on what has been a joyride for jazz lovers in the city. Spanning across two weekends, Jazz Utsav enthralled jazz fans for three days, across Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi. 
Ranjit Barot
Ranjit vividly remembers the early days of Jazz Utsav, in its previous avatar, as Jazz Yatra. "Jazz Yatra began in 1978; I first performed in 1980. The feeling was fantastic; I won't forget those moments," recalls this James McLaughlin and Zakir Hussain fan. "It was India's first taste of watching the masters in action. It was education as well as entertainment." Barot will be playing predominantly from his newly released album, Bada Boom, which is a melting pot of Jazz, Rock, and Indian Carnatic sounds.
JAZZ DESSERTS
Giving Ranjit Barot company will be his band membersu00a0-- saxophonist Tim Garland, bassist Dominique di Piazza, pianist Harmeet Mansatta and carnatic violinist Bala Bhushan. Earlier in the evening Norwegian solo Jazz artist, 26 year-old Mari Kvien Brunvoll will dish out an edgy mix of improvised music as well as her own compositions, which she dubs is a "fusion of Hip-Hop, Electronica, Jazz, Norwegian Folk and Pop. I will be playing Experimental Pop music aand the audience can hear some voice sampling as well," says Mari from her hotel room in Bangalore, of what's in store at her scheduled act in Mumbai, on Saturday.
Mari had travelled to India before, in 2006, and travelled from Kerala to North India. When she returned to Norway, four months later, she found that her sound reflected a slight Indian influence, she reveals. "I found strains of similarity between Indian and Norwegian folk tunes. Mari, who turned professional five years ago, and who makes her debut at Jazz Utsav, is very curious to know whether Indian audiences will warm up to this new kind of Jazz soundu00a0-- "I know Indian's love vocals a lot, so it might be interesting for them."
Also from Norway is the four-piece band, Gumbo, comprising Kare Nymark Junior (trumpet), Even Kruse Skatrud (trombone), David Gald (Tuba) and Kenneth Ekornes (Percussion & Drums). This 10 year-old band have been to India separately before, but will be playing as a band for the first time in India, on Saturday. Speaking to us from Bangalore, Kare is excited about the experience, "Some band members have heard Indian Classical music and have even played with Indian musicians. A while ago, we were in Assam and heard Baul music, which we liked a lot." The quintet is inspired by the New Orleans sound but admit that Indian raagas have influenced their sound, time and again.
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Passes for Seagram's 100 Piper's Jazz Utsav at the venue or log on to www.jazzutsavfestival.com
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