Jazz music rarely needs an introduction these days. Amongst the hip, beebop, artsy, progressive, tilt-my-beret-to-the-side crowd, Jazz has always been a transformative musical force, speaking to audiences across cultures, races, boundaries and religions.
To true Jazz enthusiasts, Jazz isn’t just music. It’s a language, a language with varying intensity and with diverse messages for its listeners. From its origins in African American slaves to its rich evolvement over time, Jazz has made a powerful entry into India, as can be evidenced by both an increase in the prevalence of Jazz performances; as well as the openings of many jazz clubs all over India.
BRIEF BACKGROUND
John Coltrane
Jazz is an American musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States from a confluence of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has also incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. The word jazz was first used to refer to music in Chicago in about 1915.
Jazz has, from its early 20th century inception, spawned a variety of subgenres, from New Orleans Dixieland dating from the early 1910s, big band-style swing from the 1930s and 1940s, bebop from the mid-1940s, a variety of Latin jazz fusions such as Afro-Cuban and Brazilian jazz from the 1950s and 1960s, jazz-rock fusion from the 1970s and late 1980s developments such as acid jazz, which blended jazz influences into funk and hip-hop.
JAZZ IN INDIA
Spyro Gyra
It’s fair to say that India has always had a parallel niche jazz scene alongside the evolution of jazz in the rest of the world. The recently defunct Jazz Yatra, started in 1978, featured no less than the jazz legends themselves. Over the years it grew, arguably, into one of the longest running international festivals in the world. Then came Capital Jazz, a new organization that is attempting to take over from where Jazz Yatra left off. The two editions of Capital Jazz’s ‘Jazz Utsav’ so far featured some great international artistes, but it has still got a long way to go.
Over the past three years, India has been host to Jazz legends such as Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter but to name a few. The fact that true-blue jazz artists such as these can rally an audience speaks volumes of India’s respect for the art form. Besides big brand name jazz groups and artists, one can also find many local interest groups around jazz music, such as Pune Jazz Club, Bangalore Jazz Habba, Chennai Jazz Club, and Jazz Goa.
Perhaps a greater leap than local interest groups would be actual dedicated jazz clubs that have popped up all over India, most notable perhaps, The Blue Frog in Mumbai. Other notables are Atrium Lounge Bar in Delhi and Henry Tham’s in Mumbai. Also touring India in November of 2008 will be legendary jazz group Spyro Gyra, performing in both Mumbai and in Bangalore.
Suffice to say that jazz music is alive and well in India. Local artists continue to perform at local joints in all major metros. Powerhouse jazz names continue to book tours in India. We may not have the next Miles Davis or John Coltrane, but India maintains tremendous respect for the art which they pioneered and made popular.
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