Gig review/ International Jazz Day 2023

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Concert: International Jazz Day 2023

Artistes: Various; curated by Louiz Banks 

Genre: Jazz

Details: Tata Theatre, April 30

Rating: *** 1/2

Mumbai's jazz fans were spoilt for choice over the weekend, as event organisers went all-out to celebrate International Jazz Day on April 30. Connoisseurs raved over Brazilian saxophonist Lucas Santana at the two-day World Jazz Festival presented by Banyan Tree at Bandra's Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir. At Lower Parel's AntiSocial, guitarist Adil Manuel curated a Saturday jazz night. The Revolver Club organised vinyl listening sessions, presentations and gigs at Veranda, Bandra. French band Miss Kiss played at the BlueBop Cafe in Khar. And finally, Louiz Banks curated the annual mega-event at the Tata Theatre, NCPA, on Sunday.

With so much happening simultaneously, this blogger could only attend the NCPA show, having already committed to the Carnatic percussion quartet featuring ghatam maestro Vikku Vinayakram and kanjira exponent V. Selvaganesh at the NMACC on Saturday. Like the previous editions, the Tata show had a fair amount of variety, with vocal jazz, contemporary jazz, an energetic bass-drum combo and Indo-jazz fusion on the platter. 

Actor Denzil Smith compered the show, presented by NCPA and managed by Gigatainment as part of the global celebrations spearheaded by Unesco. A highlight was the opening set by the Jazz Lads, comprising four teenagers mentored by bassist Avishek Dey. Saxophonist Harsh Bhavsar, guitarist Sshivin Shirodkar, pianist Nathan Thampy and drummer Anurag Saha displayed potential, even though they played only two numbers. Maybe another tune was deserved.

Vocalist Zian Bhamgara showed good range and control. Her four-song set included 'Sit On My Knee' and the standard 'Nature Boy'. This was followed by a hyper-energetic performance by bassist Mohini Dey and drummer Gino Banks, who dazzled on 'Meat Eater' and 'Introverted Soul'.

Kolkata-based The Act, with vocals by Shreya Bhattacharya, came on after the break, impressing on 'Give It All' and the Rodgers-Hart tune 'My Funny Valentine'. Pianist Arka Chakraborty's playing had a subtle touch. French group Miss Kiss, comprising pianist Jean-Christophe Cholet, saxophonist Vincent Mascart and drummer Quentin Cholet, were the audience favourite, as they played tunes from their self-titled album. Besides two shows in Mumbai, the band performed in Pune and New Delhi on this tour.

The finale, an Indo-fusion set, comprised Louiz Banks on piano, vocalist Sharmistha Chatterjee, sitar exponent Ravi Chary, tabla player Satyajit Talwalkar, Mohini Dey and Gino Banks. Vocal taans and sargams blended with sitar, piano and bass passages, with snippets of popular lines like 'Ja Ja Re Apni Mandirwa' and 'Hamari Atariya'. However, one felt the set was too short, and ended abruptly. Though the overall show was structured well, one hoped the final act was longer. Maybe only two acts after the break would be a solution in future, giving more time for the musicians to breathe.