It was the American jazz and blues pianist and singer, Ray Brown, who once famously remarked, ‘Jazz is something you have to feel, something you have to live’.
Mumbai’s jazz musicians have kept alive the spirit of jazz music, which is a product of cultural collaboration and speaks the universal language of tolerance and freedom. And now, they are coming together to pay a tribute to this rich art form, with the first edition of Ziziland Jazz Festival. The first show will have The Bombay Jazz Club, featuring Samantha Edwards (Vocals), D Wood (Bass), Karim Ellaboudi (Keys) and Aron Nyiro (Drums), pay a tribute to 100 Years of Ella Fitzgerald, known as the first lady of song. In the second show, Louiz Banks, Gino Banks, Gary Lawyer and Sheldon D’Silva will enthrall jazz lovers with The Rat Pack Songbook.
For Samantha, who has done close to a thousand live gigs, Ella was the queen of jazz. “Vocal jazz came to the fore and took centre stage when Ella came into the scene. From a shy person to a star performer that she was and through her music she displayed her artistry and skill as a jazz vocalist and musician,” says Samantha. The singer believes that in her centennial year, celebrating Ella is the least they can do. “It is important to celebrate her centenary so that we are also able to let the world rediscover her music and appreciate all Ella was and let her legacy live on,” she says adding that it would be impossible to do every song that Ella did, but they have chosen some of her most iconic songs as well as some of their favourites from her repertoire. “One of them will be a song I did when I was eight years old!” she exclaims.
Gary lawyer believes that the jazz scene is in revival mode. “The reasons are numerous including more musicians taking the instrument seriously. I feel organising festivals like these help in bringing people together to enjoy the music and atmosphere. So, the more exposed jazz is, the more people get into it,” he says. As for the repertoire, Gary wants to keep it a surprise for the audience. “The only thing certain is that I want to make it as varied and enjoyable as possible,” he adds.
The Ziziland Jazz Festival will take place today, 6 pm onwards at St Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra.
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 "Ziziland Jazz Festival")
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