Jazzing up ‘Mandu!

by PRAVAT J GURUNG

FROM ISSUE # 154 (October 2008) | IN THIS ISSUE
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Owing to unavoidable circumstances the Kathmandu Jazz Festival could not be held last year but it's back with a bang this year. Starting from 22 - 27 October, Jazzmandu 2008 is going to Jazz up 'Mandu and you'll get to experience jazz music like you've never before with six international bands and with Nepali bands such as Prustaar, Gandarbha, Kutumba, JCS Trio and Cadenza & Friends. WAVE brings to you an exclusive interview with the international bands playing at the event.

What do you think of Jazzmandu?
Adrian: I have heard wonderful things about it from friends who have played here before, so I am looking forward to having a blast.
Catia: I don't know about Jazzmandu yet but I've prayed to be a part of the event. Nepal is one place I've always wanted to go to and I'm sure it will be a wonderful experience.
Greg: I think it's a great idea!
Terrence: I'll find out soon as this will be my first visit!

How did the band come together and started making music?
Adrian: I was still in college back in 90's and Karl and I played together then. Then I met Sanjay in 2002 in Bombay when he came down from L.A. We played and the good vibe connected us. So in 2004 when we both resettled in Bombay we formed Global Unity and have been playing together ever since.
Catia: Carlos and I come from a musical family. We grew up listening to all kinds of music. When I came back from my tour to the US, we began playing music together. Vincent was the last one to join the band. Christophe and I have been working together for the past 10 years.
Greg: We started through mutual interest in similar kinds of music because I was looking for musicians to play my compositions. These are some of the best guys I've played with.
Terrence: In Jazzmandu, I will be performing as a solo artist supported by Festival musicians. I actually haven't met them but this is rather exciting for me.

How did the band get its name?
Adrian: At the time when we talked about getting together, I was in New York; Sanjay was in LA and Karl in Bombay. Also we were individually gigging around the world with our own respective set ups. Hence, our band is called 'Global Unity.'
Terrence: We are still in search for a good name. Any suggestions?

What is the main motive of the band?
Adrian: We love performing and song writing. So this trio gives us a creative sphere to let us be who we are and that's that.
Catia: I'm a free artist, and love that my musicians feel like me. Freedom of expression is the main issue!! I write songs and each musician brings something, which is why freedom of expression is important to us!
Terrence: For me music brings cultures together and bridges the generation gap. This is also what is happening in my band and our music: we are five musicians from different countries, musical backgrounds and experience levels.

Do you think jazz is underestimated in the music scene? How is the jazz music scene in your country?
Adrian: Jazz is not underestimated anywhere. It has been mystified for some reason but, when people experience it at a concert there is always an immediate connection whether they understand it or not; its lack of sponsorship that stops it from being easily accessed. It can be the popular music of the day as it once was in the 30's and 40's. The music scene here in Mumbai, however, is ok because there are just a handful of quality jazz musicians due to the  lack of exposure and awareness.
Catia: No not at all. It's only those who don't play jazz who think it doesn't have any future, just the soul. I don't agree with that, the biggest festivals in the world are jazz festivals. Listening to jazz is giving wings to your imagination, which is why a jazz concert would easily be a terrific therapy. I've been living in France for 24 years. I'm part of several jazz festivals, but until now never managed to sing in all of them, so you can imagine how many there are and know how the jazz scene is like here, and how respected it is.
Greg: Yes. It is not big business. The media is, understandably, only interested in promoting music that which is already popular out of self-interest. The popular stuff is dictated by the music industry which is only interested in the safest options for making money. The public would only be aware of real musical expression if they went looking for it.  And about the scene here, well, struggling – like everywhere else – but it's a mission to fill the world with truth.
Terrence: I disagree, however, the problem I see is that jazz musicians sometimes underestimate other musical genres in order to keep jazz "pure". I believe jazz can survive only on inclusiveness. In Berlin, where I currently live, there are many great jazz musicians. You can go see live jazz every night! The competition is fierce and growing with more international artists arriving weekly. Especially jam sessions are inspiring, when young music students and seasoned professionals come together and play.

Catia Werneck Quartet, France

Catia has performed on Broadway in the US before landing in Paris and Carlos is a bass player, guitarist, percussionist, composer and an arranger. Vincent Bidal, on the other hand, started playing keyboard when he was three years old and started showing interest in jazz music. Interested in Latin music especially in Brazilian music besides jazz, drummer Christophe Bras has been one of the most popular drummers of the Brazilian scene in France.

Greg LyonS Trio, London

The trio formed by Greg Lyons on saxophone, Darren Moore on drums and Marcus Dengate on bass has a special place in the jazz world. If you're lucky enough to witness this awesome little group, which you will during Jazzmandu, you'll hear them encouraging each other to push the limits of melodic inventiveness and rhythmic daring.

The Wanny Angerer Latin-Jazz Trio, Honduras

With her style of music, a mixture of Bossa Nova, Romantic Ballads, Jazz and Latin American sounds, Wanny Angerer with her dynamic voice sings of love, life, loss & celebration. The band includes Suchet Malhotra on drums & percussion and Svetlana Radashkevich on keyboards. Swing, bossa-nova, samba, bolero - the Wanny Angerer Trio performs jazz standards with a Latin twist.

Global Unity Trio, Mumbai

Global Unity hails from Mumbai and was formed back in 2004. Adrian has performed at the VH1 Jazz Masters held at the Gate Way of India. Sanjay has crossed many borders, physical & cultural, in pursuit of his vision - a vision of world community, expressed through music. He graduated from Guitar Institute of Technology, LA in 1989 and quickly became an active member of the Los Angeles music scene, as a guitar player and composer. Karl Peters grew up in a railway employees' colony in Madras where most people played music to relieve the tedium of dreary day jobs. His musical upbringing revolved around the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Cliff Richards and he eventually got into music himself.

Mark Brown Quartet, London

Having studied classical and jazz music, Mark has established himself as one of the leading jazz and pop session players. He has performed and recorded with Basement Jaxx, Amy Winehouse, Mark Ronson, Groove Armada, Jamie Cullum and many more. Jazz UK Magazine quoted Mark Brown Quartet's drummer Graham Fox as 'most listening young drummer ever heard.' Bass player Jerry Haglund most recently has become the guitarist for the acid-jazz legends that is the James Taylor Quartet while guitarist Daniel Drury's music aims at foot tapping and a smiles on peoples face.

Terrence Bowry, Berlin

Born in London, a Canadian citizen, currently living in Germany, Terrence Bowry is pure groove. Well known for songs of Jazz, Blues and Soul and compositions which are sometimes ambient and funky. His musical variety is impressing. Coming from an artistic background as dancer and actor, he was educated in music while on stage working with bands and world class musicians for many years.