For the love of Music

Jazz is slowly getting popular in Bangalore, says Puja Goyal

VIJAY TIMES: VT LIFE PAGE 3

JAZZ originated in New Orleans, and expressed a Negroid point of view about life in the 20th century. Jazz, (with its roots in the Blues) has all of the elements, from the spare and piercing to the multifaceted and enveloping. It is the hardest music to play and it is the highest rendition of individual emotion in the history of Western music.

LESSON FOR JAZZ MUSICIANS: India has its share of Jazz; in movies, with the Cha Cha Cha or at pubs and hotels across cities. The Embassy of France in collaboration with Bangalore School of Music recently brought to Bangalore the Parisian Thoroughfares, a Jazz concert by the Madhav Chari Trio. Madhav was accompanied by guest artists, Fabien Marcoz and Mourad Benhammou, both from France. Madhav, who is a Jazz purist, states, "Jazz is a pure form of music that should be enjoyed sans fusions." He is wary of people who make music without understanding it. "You can go to the Berklee School of Music and learn all there is to learn about music but if you do not understand form and structure, how are you going to deviate from it? As a musician, the most important thing one must do is listen, listen, listen and listen. The problem is there are so many bad musicians who, in the name of Jazz are creating rubbish. They do not take the time to listen and learn; this has affected listenership."

Writing, Mathematics and music were his primary interest when he was growing up. "Everyone is talking about creativity nowadaysÖ what is creativity? How can you create unless you understand form and structure in music?"

THE AUDIENCE: "Jazz music is more prominent in Kolkata; people in Bangalore are as educated or uneducated about Jazz music as the people in Mumbai," says Madhav who was impressed by the turnout for his concert. Madhav who grew up with Jazz Music in Kolkata he adds, " The number of Jazz enthusiasts has definitely increased, but the number of ëinformed" Jazz enthusiasts were more in 1980s, especially in Kolkata."

Carlton Braganza hosts a Jazz show, Indigo and Blues, every Sunday on Radio Indigo. He indicated that the response to the show has been satisfying although he was unfamiliar with the kind of audience the show attracted. He elaborates, "Jazz is not for everyone, and one has to start listening to the music from the simple forms and then move onto the more complex. If someone would like to get a taste of Jazz, they could get in touch with Max Mueller Bhavan, Alliance FranÁoise or catch frequent concerts by new musicians at Opus."

THE FUTURE OF JAZZ: Jazz is a pure Western Classical music with its roots in American Culture; and most musicians in Bangalore have been unsuccessful in making Jazz as their full-time profession. "We are dominated by Bollywood culture. You can only survive as a musician if you can blend into that; otherwise it will always remain a secondary career option," says Carlton.

Parisian Thoroughfare is a composition by legendary African-American jazz pianist Bud Powell. The trio performances were a tribute to the energies inspired by Bud Powell. The concert was a delight and a feast to the ear, and hopefully, more Indian musicians would be inspired to take the brave step into the world of music.