We find ourselves at an interesting moment in time – a newly opened restaurant in Goa
takes us on a photographic journey through the golden years of Jazz in India,
in which Braz Gonsalves plays a fundamental role.
A few months later, a musical and a
concert are held, with a documentary in the pipeline, to celebrate the life and
times of Braz. Finally, we have the wonderful opportunity to appreciate and
absorb the man’s contribution to music. Finally… the legendary musician is
getting his due.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Told through a series of photographs and
some memorabilia, all from the collection of Yvonne Gonsalves, on the walls of
Black Market in Miramar, Braz’s life has been an eventful journey. In one
snapshot the young saxophonist is in concert; in another he jams with fellow
musicians, including Cat Anderson, the trumpeter in the iconic Duke Ellington’s
band. In one image the accomplished musician holds two saxophones, alternating
between them while in a few others Amitabh Bachchan, Kabir Bedi, Alyque
Padamsee and other celebrities are seen enjoying his music.
This photographic documentation of Braz’s
life has been put together by animation filmmaker and comics artiste Nishant
Saldanha as part of his larger exhibition of images that celebrates Goa and
runs through the restaurant. Says the photographer-curator, “Braz, to me, is
the living memory of a special history that has almost too quietly slipped by.
“As a young artiste for whom music plays an informative role, I
had recently moved back and was looking for an Indian connection to western
music. There are several, but Braz’s openness to talk about that time in Bombay
helped me see how that connection was made and sustained in Jazz some 60-odd
years before I was born. In spending a morning with me, he painted a vibrant
picture of what it was like to be and perform at the shows, who attended, who
knew who, and what it felt like to be a jazz musician in a country that was
newly liberated and rapidly modernising, always emphasising the subtle and
tonally human notes that helps better relate a time that one didn’t live. Braz
and Yvonne’s archive of incredible black and white photographs held testimony
to all this. Were it not for their generosity, it might have all been hard for
me to grasp.”
The painstakingly put together exhibit, inspired and supported
by the invaluable contribution of Naresh Fernandes, Vivek Menezes and Prashant
Panjiar, allows us a precious peek into the spirit of the times, a peek into
history, capturing the mood, the energy, the camaraderie and the joy of the
music.
In a further treat, audiences were able to actually witness and
experience some of that camaraderie and music come to life with the musical and
concert ‘Raga Rock: Revival of Jazz’ organised by Communicare Trust in
partnership with Lotus Film and TV Production and Help India at Kala Academy,
Panjim. The musical offered glimpses of the major events in Braz’s life – his
early education in music at his parish school, his brief stint performing music
at a circus, his collaborative journeys with pianist Louis Banks, singer Pam
Crain and Karl Peters – friends for life, his meeting with his wife Yvonne, the
great Chic Chocolate’s daughter, Braz’s fusion of Indian sounds with Western
music, his growing international reputation and his crossing over to Gospel
music. But it was the legend actually performing live that made for an
unforgettable evening. The octogenarian was joined by former band members Louis
Banks and Karl Peters as he played to a full house. To further delight
audiences, he played with his very talented grandson, saxophonist Jarryd
Rodrigues.
The
concert might have ended but it is wonderful to know that one can still savour
the music. Like an ongoing conversation, dip back in to view the photographic
exhibit once more to fully appreciate the spirit of an extraordinary musician
and a very special time in our history.
