“Jazz is smooth and cool. Jazz is rage. Jazz flows like
water. Jazz never seems to begin or end. Jazz
isn’t methodical, but jazz isn’t messy either.
Jazz is a conversation, a give and take. Jazz is
the connection and communication between
musicians. Jazz is abandon.” – Nat Wolff.
For all that jazz is, the question that needs to be
asked this International Jazz Day is whether Goa does
its bit to ensure that it remains a place that is a safe
haven for jazz; a place where musicians, songwriters,
composers and the like come together to make
beautiful music.
One such individual endeavouring to keep the style
going is Goan music legend Colin D’Cruz. Speaking
on the endeavours undertaken by his enterprise, Jazz
Goa, the bassman says, “Jazz Goa has been hosting an
International Jazz Day concert in Goa right from the
demarcation of the day by UNESCO in the year 2012.
Every year, on April 30, musicians from across India and
sometimes other parts of the world take the stage in Goa to
celebrate this truly global sound of music.”
Herbie Hancock, retired musician, UNESCO Goodwill
Ambassador and Chairman of the Thelonius Monk
Foundation is thrilled with Goa’ jazzy link. “I am pleased
to have you with us. Jazz is a natural part of a sustainable
solution,” he says in a letter to Colin and Jazz Goa. Asked
whether Goa has lived up to this billing, Colin responds,
“Goa has immense potential to be an even larger hub for
jazz than it already is. I have had the honour of sharing the
stage with M’tafiti Imara, professor of music in San Diego
and an established musician himself, who has pointed
out that Goa is better foil for jazz than even America.
Furthermore, I recently received a phone call from
UNESCO, inquiring into whether the city of Panjim could
be demarcated as a host city for the genre of jazz and its
celebrations. That would truly put Goa on the map as a
musical destination.”
This year was no exception to the jazz celebrations
in the state, apart from the fact that Jazz Goa brought
in International Jazz Day on its eve. At the Park Hotel in
Calangute, several jazz legends from other parts of
the country came together to pay homage to a form
of music that composers have called ‘one of life’s
greatest gifts: fun found within surprise’. In keeping
with their aim of inviting one renowned artiste to
perform at the annual celebrations, this year, Jazz
Goa brought in Bangalore-based, Indian jazz guitar
legend Gerard Machado, as the guest of honour
performer. Quizzed about whether Goa is indeed
deserving of the praise bestowed by Hancock,
Gerard says, “I think for Goa, this is extremely high
praise and is something that should be worked on as
it is already a great venue for jazz, and has a lot
of promise for the future.”
A total of over twenty local and international
artists took the stage in one massive jam
session that extended to the wee hours of
International Jazz Day. Amongst them was the
oldest working Goan jazz pianist, Xavier Fernandes, an
octogenarian who travelled from Australia to take part
in the event. As the dust that had settled over the course
of the day was knocked off by the 5/4 count of the
evening’s events, spirits began to soar. Perhaps the words
of American jazz drummer and bandleader Art Blakey
are true. For he once described this genre in a simplistic
statement: “Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life.”
