Thursday

All that Jazz


Why do I love jazz so much? It’s soulful, and fits human moods brilliantly. It can swing from happy to a deep connection with in seconds and can even cry soulfully when pleading for help. Jazz rejoices like never has there been a moment of such a high and also can be fun and childish and impish and full of camaraderie when it chooses to be that.

Jazz came to America three hundred years ago in chains. From west Africa through the slaves. And New Orleans became the jazz capital. Jazz was a thriving form of popular music in the 1920’s after it caught on among the musicians who were paid to entertain clients in the brothels of New Orleans. And then the worlds greatest happened - up coming stars like Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke perfected the ‘hot’ style and made Jazz popular. Ella Fitzgerald pushed it notches onwards. And jazz music started thriving. So many genres came to existence - bebop, hard bop, Dixieland, cool jazz, free jazz, jazz-fusion, modal jazz, soul jazz, smooth jazz and boogie woogie. Fitzgerald, along with Louis Armstrong in particular, introduced jazz to a more mainstream audience with her vast repertoire, and her version ‘Mack the knife’ became a pure classic.

Am I a puritanical jazz lover? I don’t know what that means. I love music of all kinds and all genres. I love jazz and I love Madonna too. These days I love Bollywood and can tap to anything that sounds good to the ear. Am not selective about my music but am very appreciative of any music. Music to me, is food, for my soul.

Closer home, when I see Jazz and its introduction to my life, I relate all that Jazz to the now defunct Jazz Yatras. Interestingly, jazz pockets exist all over India like Capital Jazz (Jazz Yatra gave way to this) Pune Jazz Club, Bangalore Jazz Habba, Chennai Jazz Club, Jazz Goa, the West Coast Jazz Utsav in Mumbai.

Some jazz clubs are far more active than the others (pretty much like the Hashers) - for instance The Pune Jazz Club meets every month at the Max Mueller and share details on their fave jazz artistes. They also organize the occasional live jazz event at Shisha Cafe, Koregaon Park. The club members have a blast at every meeting that invariably turns into a party. Bangalore Habba features a four day jazz festival within the ten day festival. Some of India's most accomplished jazz artistes, including visiting international artistes come to perform here. Goan jazz musicians have always been at the forefront of the jazz scene in India. And Jazz Goa makes sure they stay in the limelight. Calcutta and Delhi too have a decent fan following for this niche music arena in the country. So its not surprising at all why they say All that Jazz for nothing.

13 comments:

apple27_shan said...

Hi mee :)
nice one !
Usually most music sets the feet tappin but gee jazz sets the soul tappin..yea that's what it does to me.I have an ear for all kinda music and had the oppotunity to be exposed to jazz aswell .Havin discovered rock jazz durin my college days i delved further and discovered the wide spectrum of jazz. I relax in the companiship of blues jazz .An easy evenin, a tall frosted rum,my dog snoring gently by my feet,
the sound of the sax n piano..I'm content..welcome to my den :)

melinda said...

Play take five and I xcan rock to Jazz, the evening comes alive and the world seems friendly and happy. Long live jazz:)

Anon said...

I used to think jazz was all abt sadness and tears so never took to it. A few weeks ago I was at my brothers place in n orl and omg was I educated! We went for a live performance by a local band at a open air diner very swish place that had a mix of all types of nationalities enjoying the music and wine n food. It was this evening I lost my heart to jazz and am glad I discovered soul in music:) bless you bro:)

ashish said...

Couple of years ago I saw ella fitzgerald live in nyc - that was a lifetime experience, I treasured it. I think I love jazz more for its spunk - and its camelion spirit. It takes on new forms and new moods in one song itself, while in many other music generes it takes many tracks to deliver variety. So yes it is "All that Jazz" indeed:)

sanjiv said...

They say dance is the best form of expression, I believe dance could never be that , without music, and when that music happens to be jazz then dance takes on a new hue and halo which only those who feel frm the soul would knw what all that jazz does to you:) long live jazz and long live dancing feet therefore:)

Mike said...

The real genre of soul in music - is in jazz, never doubt that.

RavneetSingh said...

I left office early once to catch a live performance at st andrews - the bait was jonny walker, free:) but once the show started and I stumbled in the darkened hallway to find a seat I was mesmerized by this large lady and her vocals. My feet were tappin quite unconsciously and I could not tear my eyes away from the voodoo spell she had created around me. I had no clue of who she was all I knew was she belted a few stunners before intermission and my god I was ready to go upstage and kiss her, she turns out to be nelly the goddess of jazz:) and am I glad I saw this live performance , now am so totally in tune with blues n jazz, love it!

kay said...

nice article , love jazz, it can keep me enthralled for hours. good food & good music, go hand in hand .they make the best combo.three cheers for jazz yay.....

Anon said...

Hey Mee, howru? Long time! Glad u r back at blogging. Missed readin ur posts! Here in pune we are regulars at the jazz meets and are great enthusiasts too. Infact had organized a live event with java city guys and it was an open house - the night rocked! Great jamming too:) come ovr next time we do one?:)- Jas:)

gita said...

Strange things can happen to you when listenin to jazz. You can get a lot . Or come away with nothing - too bad! Jazz is full of questions and so full of lives vagaries:(

Jim said...

Rock n roll is my poison Mee:), I like jazz but not with any reverence

sheila said...

Life is filled with dreams and jazz makes you believe dreams come true:) welcome to jazz:), the world is over crowded and jazz allows you to find an empty place yknw:)

ALLEX said...

music is always a soul mate for anyone I think....... jazz comforts our senses and make us feel so warm and homely..... All the worries just fade away and mind becomes so relaxed, thats the beauty of jazz......