It’s a breezy evening out in the courtyard of Phoenix MarketCity, a welcome respite from the Chennai heat. There’s an assortment of instruments on the stage, an indicator that the second evening of the Jazz Music Festival is set to begin. The crowd is abuzz with anticipation, excitedly discussing the performers and all things jazz.
Soon enough, the Maarten Visser Jazz Trio takes the stage. Comprising Maarten on the saxophone, Keith Peters on bass, and Jeoraj George on drums, the group begins with a pulsating melange of sounds that gradually coalesce into a wonderful, foot-tapping piece.
The interplay of the instruments is impeccable, with new sounds slinking in and out, true to the improvisational spirit of jazz; a thick bassline, a fresh burst on the sax, or thumping percussion. The ensemble has no real frontman, as each musician seamlessly adds his vital element to the dynamic puzzle. The pieces move between the up-tempo, rhythmic grooves to the smoother, melodic works you might have heard in a jazz club in ’60s New Orleans.
The trio wrap up their set with a self-proclaimed tearjerker, velveteen and marked by subtle tones of regret, grief and denial. The ensuing applause from the audience was evidently heartfelt.
The second act of the evening, the jazz rock trio Generation Band, with Mohini Dey on bass/vocals, Esani Dey on lead guitar and Gino Banks on drums, took us from jazz clubs to underground rock clubs that loved some Herbie Hancock.
Playing a mix of originals and covers, the energy emanating from the stage was relentless and invigorating, with their youthful exuberance evident. Despite the pace, however, the intricacy of the instrumentation was clear, from Mohini’s complex bass solos, to Esani’s prowess on the guitar, to Gino’s awesome drumming. The group’s music displayed a great amount of versatility, with the audience often left in amazement at the seeming ease with which the musicians commanded over a varied skill set. At the end of their original set, when the crowd shouted for more, Generation obliged with a stirring piece, representative of the powerful performance they’d put up.
The evening, then, was reassuring proof that the music scene in Chennai is supportive of a diverse array of music and artistes, and that the jazz greats won’t be forgotten any time soon.
