WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2024
Ajit John
Musicians from every corner of the world have been landing up and performing in Goa ever since a paradise called Goa was discovered on planet Earth. Many of them choose to leave their luxurious lifestyles back home to enjoy the simple ‘susegaad’ lifestyle that Goa is known for. The people’s warmth and hospitality radiates even brighter than the Sun. Goa is a tourist destination not just for its beaches and scenic beauty, it is a live music haven too. Hundreds of live music venues dot every tourist belt across Goa. If a census is done, Goa may emerge as a place with the most live music venues in the world. Small wonder then, why so many musicians from all over the world choose to make Goa their second home, some of them even setting up a permanent home in Goa.
Goa has always been a favoured destination for jazz artists from around the world. Grammy award winning saxophonist Henry Threadgill who set up home in Moira. Currently another Grammy winning artiste violinist L. Shankar set up home in south Goa. Saxophonist M’tafiti Imaraa who chairs the saxophone department at San Diego university has been a regular visitor to Goa over the last decade performing with local jazz band Jazz Junction each time he is here. Canadian singer Alyse Pascoe now lives permanently in South Goa,
Having international musicians perform alongside local artistes has raised the entertainment bar in Goa, often resulting in world-class acts at even low profile venues. One great place to actually be a part of this global melting pot is the seasonal Saturday Night Market at Arpora. Thousands of local and international visitors are entertained by a series of acts that change by the hour. A big stage/sound/light set-up keeps every performer in the spotlight. What started as a small flea market evolved into a mind boggling event with thousands of stalls catering to the whole world actually. Goa has always been all about the ‘vibe’. You feel it loud and clear at places like the Saturday Night Market. Jazz Goa has been hosting the International Jazz Day, a global event, every year on the 30th of April to rave reviews. This year the event will feature over fifty artistes from Goa, across India and around the world.
Jazz Goa is a platform for visiting artists, having recorded and hosted shows for many of them. The music produced in collaboration with local artists meets international standards. Small wonder why Jazz Goa’s music is the first thing visitors hear at the new Mopa airport on arrival in Goa.
A regular visitor to Goa for a while now is renowned Blues guitarist Salim John Sadiq who comes all the way from Siliguri. When asked what brought him to Goa every year he smiled and said it was the place and the people. He said, “I love the people or atleast all the people I meet. The vibe is fantastic and yes the place is beautiful too. I am from Siliguri and the window for jazz is tiny there but in Goa it is so much wider. You have very good musicians coming over and you can meet them and play with them. It is an education and you are able to expand your horizons. It is just fantastic that’s why I keep coming over to Goa every year to play”.
A young musician who is making his name has been a regular visitor. 13-year-old guitar prodigy Daniel Geiles from Hyderabad has been a visitor to Goa. His father Nigel said it was an education to come over to Goa and play with very good musicians and now he would be coming over on International Jazz Day and he was already looking forward to it.
Canadian musician Alyse Pascoe who is a resident in Goa for the past seven years said she was attracted to the place because of the nature and the fact that it was a confluence of different cultures. And yes the relaxed lifestyle was an added attraction. She said she was living here for the past five years and that despite liking it much there were things that were not attractive. She said, “The 10 o’clock curfew is not great for those in the restaurant business. When people are coming in to have a good time they shut down the music. And then of course there is the taxi fare which has gone up at a fantastic rate which is not good”.
Another regular visitor is Gerard Machado who has been collaborating with Jazz Goa Goa for over a decade and has been performing at International Jazz Day events in Goa. When asked what brought him to Goa he said,” I guess it is the beaches and the food and the music and the people. Goan musicians are fabulous. The weather is warm and that is what draws the foreigner. The first time I came to Goa was in the 60’s when I was very young. Later I was invited by Victor Hugo and much later in 2006 by Armando Gonsalves. I later started playing with Colin D’cruz in 2015 and I have been coming often. I have done a lot of recordings and it has always been a wonderful experience”.
The visit of foreign and domestic musicians have been a feature for several decades. Sometimes it is a one off performance or it could be an assignment in a hotel or a restaurant. But at the end it is also about the vibe and the relaxed nature of the audience that gives Goa an attractive bonus over other places. As long as Goa retains its distinctive touch it will continue to be an attractive destination for musicians. And long may that stay that way.
