SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2024
Ajit John
Jazz is a very democratic musical genre. It attracts everyone with the freedom it gives musicians. Jazz has a natural affinity to Goa. On April 30, the world will celebrate International Jazz Day. UNESCO announced the day as International Jazz Day in the year 2011 and launched the first global event in 2012. Jazz Goa launched the event simultaneously with a concert in the park on April 30, 2012.
Jazz is a form of music that has a niche audience that keeps growing with time. If jazz is improvised music Indian classical musicians have been at it long before the Americans ‘discovered’ it.
One of Goa’s premier jazz musicians, Colin D’Cruz said, “I give America credit for coining a hip name for improvised music though. Jazz is a music ‘of’ the moment created ‘in’ the moment and that’s what makes it so exciting. It’s all about emoting and interacting between musicians onstage and the audience”. He has been involved in promoting local talent through the ages. Jazz Goa, the organisation he set up has always kept the event free of cost to the audience simply because of the invaluable wholehearted contribution made by hundreds of artistes over the last twelve years. Every year, accomplished musicians from Goa, across India and around the world perform. Colin said that Goan jazz musicians have always been at the forefront of the evolution of this great form of music in India. Naturally an organisation promoting this music in Goa was the need of the hour and it was the first thing he set up after moving to Goa.
Colin said this year one of the highlights would be the launch of the ‘Gavin Ferreira Trio’ as the opening act. He said Goa’s most promising young jazz talent was making it’s debut on International Jazz Day. This edition, he said, would have the most number of artistes featured so far.
He said, “I think Jazz Goa has managed to keep jazz alive in Goa and around the world too with our music being broadcast regularly on social media, YouTube, cable TV and radio stations. The new Mopa airport plays Jazz Goa’s music exclusively and it’s the first thing visitors hear on arrival. Goa has always been a tourist destination and haven for creative artistes from all over the world. I have collaborated with some of the world’s best musicians right here in Goa. They raise the bar and help me outdo myself”.
For several jazz musicians in the State, the celebration of jazz is an important occasion. For Merlin D’Souza it was an occasion to sing a song in a genre she enjoyed the most. She said she would be singing a song called ‘Amantran’ which was based on an Indian raag with elements of jazz. She said, “I am looking forward to singing this song and I hope to get the audience to participate which will be fun.”
Goa’s most promising jazz musician the young Gavin Ferreira will perform on the piano. Talented enough to be proficient on the drums, guitar and the bass, he prefers the piano. He said he was looking forward to playing ‘Fingerprints’ like Chic Correa and ‘Perdido’, a piece given by Colin D’Cruz.
Another young talent is Daniel Geiles, a 13 year old guitarist from Hyderabad. His father Nigel said his son started off playing rock but the intricate chord work and the solo improvisation present in jazz attracted him to the genre. He said Nigel would be playing ‘Stratus’ by Billy Cobham.
Popular Goan singer Hema Sardesai admitted she was not a jazz singer but she would support the show by singing some Konkani songs with a jazzy feel. She said, “I just feel the best musicians in the world are jazz musicians and it is tough music to play and I look up to them and I will support them free of fee”.
The sense of freedom is what attracts most musicians. David Lal, who has over 40 years of experience singing jazz and other genres said the opportunity to improvise with melodies attracted him. He said, “You get a lot of freedom which is important in the artistic field. I have been singing all over the world especially South East Asia especially Bali and Jakarta. My son has also taken up singing jazz. I will be performing at the show in Goa. It will be a jazz version of “The Street where you live.”
The genre of jazz attracts all kinds. James Miranda who plays the trumpet says the genre gives his instrument an interesting timbre. He said the expressiveness of the trumpet was unique. He said, “I have been listening to several great trumpeters and jazz musicians like Wynton Marsalis and Louis Armstrong. I practise everyday fir a hour, I am working but a still a student and ready to push my limits and I intend to push my limits when I perform at the show.”
There are several shows around the State to celebrate the day. Karan Khosla, director of the Goa Jazz Academy said, “At the Goa Jazz Academy, our role goes beyond education. We strive to enrich the local arts community, offering our students and the wider community opportunities to engage in professional settings and showcase their skills on a significant stage”. He is organising a four day festival to celebrate the universal language of jazz.
The growing popularity of jazz can be gauged by the number of shows that have been organised and the plans that are afoot to have more. Vinesh Iyer said the response to the recent show by the 19 piece jazz band from Sweden at Kala Academy was very encouraging. On Saturday in South Goa, a show to focus on the new talent in jazz in the State was performed. Jazz is very popular in the State, he said. This was due to the historical connection. He said, “It has a strong connection with the traditional jazz lovers. People in Goa love swing jazz. We are planning more jazz shows but in a new avatar. We are looking at new age jazz . It has to be taken to the next generation, for them it is a different energy”.
The inherent energy present in jazz is what attracts its fans in Goa and one can certainly see the growing popularity of this genre of music.
