KIRAN PANDAY

The Kathmandu Jazz Festival, now known as just 'Jazzmandu', is taking place after a year's gap from 22-27 October. Charging up to put Kathmandu in the International Jazz Circuit, this year's jazz yatra is expected to get Kathmandu swinging to the rhythm of jazz like never before.

International bands playing this year are Catia Werneck Quartet, Greg Lyon Trio, Mark Brown Quartet, Global Unity Trio, The Wanny Angerer Latin-Jazz Trio and Terrence Bowry along with Prustaar. Nepali ensembles Gandarbha, Kutumba, JCS Trio and Cadenza & Friends of Nepal are also up.

Nepali Times caught up with the Catia Werneck Quartet and other international bands via cyberspace and got them to answer a few questions. .

Nepali Times: What do you think of jazzing it up in Kathmandu?
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 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?
Adrian: I was still in college back in the 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 together. Vincent was the last one to join the band, Christophe and I have been working together for the past 10 years.
Greg: I was looking for musicians to play my compositions and we came together because of similar interest in music. 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 haven't actually 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. 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. 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?
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 is ok. However, because of lack of exposure and awareness there are just a handful of quality jazz musicians.
Catia: No, not at all. It's only those who don't play jazz that think it doesn't have any future. Infact, the biggest festivals in the world are jazz festivals. Listening to jazz is giving wings to your imagination, which is why a jazz concert can be terrific therapy. I've been living in France for 24 years. I'm a part of several jazz festivals, but I still haven't managed to sing in all of them. So you can imagine how many there are, know how the jazz scene is like there and how respected it is.
Greg: Yes. It is not big business. The media is, understandably, only interested in promoting 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, it's struggling ? like everywhere else ? but it's a mission to fill the world with truth.
Terrence: 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, were 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 especially inspiring, when young music students and seasoned professionals come together and play.

Tickets are available at Upstairs Jazz bar, Lazimpat, Moksh Jawlakhel, all Nepa Music Outlets & respective concert venues or call 9841614230. For online booking log onto: www.jazzmandu.com

Catia Werneck Quartet, France

Catia and Carlos come from a musical family. 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 3 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.

Terrence Bowry, Berlin

Born in London, a Canadian citizen, currently living in Germany, Terrence Bowry is pure groove! With well- known songs of jazz, blues, soul songs and his own ambient and funky compositions in his bag, Bowry's musical variety is impressive. He was educated in music on stage while working with bands and world class musicians for many years, which gives him a versatile background of music, dance and acting.

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 with a Latin twist.

Greg Lyon Trio, London

The trio formed by Greg Lyons on sax, 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 in Jazzmandu, you'll hear them encouraging each other to push the limits of melodic inventiveness and rhythmic daring.

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 became the guitarist for the acid-jazz legends that is the James Taylor quartet while guitarist Daniel Drury's music aims at a tapping foot and a smirk on peoples faces.

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 father sang and played the guitar at gymkhanas and night clubs while his uncle was a drummer. His musical upbringing revolved around the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Cliff Richards and he eventually got into music himself.

Schedule

JAZZMANDU PEACE FLAG PAINTING
Wednesday, 22 October,
12.30PM-2.30PM
Venue: Hyatt Regency

FREE JAZZ
Wednesday, 22 October,
4PM-5PM
Venue: Bhaktapur, Dattatraya Square
Free entry

UPSTAIRS JAM
Wednesday, 22 October,
7PM?10PM
Venue: Upstairs Jazz Bar
Price: Rs. 350/-

JAZZ FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS
Thursday, 23 October,
1.30 PM?3.30 PM
Free entry, by invitation only

VALLEY JAMS
Thursday, 23 October
7.30 PM?9.30 PM
Price: Rs. 350/-
Featuring
Global Unity at: Hy Jazz, Hyatt Regency, Boudha
Greg Lyons Trio at:1905, Kantipath
Mark Brown Band at: La'soon, Jawlakhel

GOKARNA JAZZ BAZAAR
Friday, 24 October, 5PM - 10:30 PM (Gates open at 4PM and
close at 7PM)
Venue: Gokarna Forest Golf Resort and Spa
Price: Rs. 599/-

PEACE PARADE
Saturday, 25 October, 12PM - 1PM
Venue: Lazimpat Street
Free entry

RED HOT LATIN JAZZ
Saturday, 25 October,
7.30 PM - 10.30 PM.
(To be seated by 7.20 PM)
Venue: Regency Ballroom,
Hyatt Regency
Price: Rs. 499/-

JAZZMANDU MASTER CLASS (Workshop)
Sunday, October 26th,
11:00am - 12:00noon
Venue: Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory
Free entry (first come first seat)

JAZZ AT PATAN
Sunday, 26 October, 6PM - 8.30 PM. (To be seated by 5.45PM)
Venue: Patan Museum Square
Price: Rs. 999/-

ALL-STAR FEVER & JAZZMANDU ART EXHIBITION
Monday, 27 October,
6.30 PM ? 10PM
Venue: Hotel Shangri-La, Shambala Garden
Price: Rs. 699/-

Nick Aggs of Afro Dizzi Act was one of the first international bands who played for the 1st Kathmandu Jazz Festival and he shares his thoughts.

Jazzmandu is a wonderful festival in an amazing part of the world. I have performed at Jazzmandu in 2002 and 2003 with my band Afro Dizzi Act and in 2006 as a solo performer with the backing of the finest rhythm section in East Asia, Cadenza. I think my favorite gig over the years was at Basantapur, Durbar Square; the day I landed in Kathmandu in 2006. Straight from the airport and onto the stage in front of thousands of enthusiastic Nepali music fans, the atmosphere was electric. What I love about the festival is that it attracts such a diverse range of musicians and experiences. One moment you'll be playing be-bop and funk at Gokarna, the next a traditional Nepali folk song surrounded by the majesty of Patan.

Music as the key to peace and unity is truly realized at Jazzmandu. There are so many talented musicians sharing ideas and playing together in a country full of grandeur, humility and spirituality.