It is a night of jazz, world music and soul laced with funk and a variety of smooth music at Indiranagar venue BFlat Bar.
On Friday, they hosted world/fusion group Kefaya from France, and on January 14, they’ll host an interesting combo – the dark, avant-garde jazz of Kolkata act The Bodhisattwa Trio and the soul/funk and R&B stylings of German singer-songwriter Tabea Luisa, who will be backed by the Bodhisattwa Trio, dubbed Project TLQ.
Kolkata jazz act Bodhisattwa Trio – who released their acclaimed album Heart of Darkness last year – will be traversing their dark terrain once they finish being the backing band for Project TLQ, which is led by Tabea, who first visited the country in October last year. She says, “I was a bit afraid of India, as a young woman, you see two different pictures painted of the country, one by the media and another by people. I thought I would leave after a week, but I left only after a month, when my visa ran out!”
Tabea met Bodhisattwa Trio drummer Premjit Dutta in Berlin and instantly knew there was a connect.
She recalls, “I spoke to him for five minutes and realized we had the same music tastes. The music is not so complex, so it worked out pretty well.” The band will first perform soul, blues, funk and a bit of jazz with Tabea as Project TLQ and then take over the night with their avant-garde jazz.
Guitarist Bodhisattwa Ghosh says, “We also have two or three new songs, we’re already working on a third album.”
TLQ and the Trio were originally set to play a long set together, interspersing each other’s material, but decided to break it up into two different sets. Bodhisattwa, of course, is looking forward to play in Bengaluru again, where they launched Heart of Darkness last year with guitarist Bruce Lee Mani from Thermal and a Quarter.
He notes, “Whoever came to that show was silent and into the music, they felt that intensity. That’s why we wanted to come back.”
The show on Saturday was only the first of a two-part treat by Bflat for music lovers in the city, with London-based world/jazz and fusion act Kefaya performing on Friday. Guitarist Giuliano Modarelli says, “We’ve played last year and just played with (percussionist/electronic producer) Sarathy Korwar last month in Bengaluru and it was a great vibe.”
The band, who regularly visit India and are just about to wrap up their India tour after shows in Goa, call India “a great country.” The guitarist adds, “We’ve been received very well. We play quite a varied set, influenced by so many different things – from Indian classical to Western classical.”
Following their Bflat show, Kefaya are already working to release their next album, featuring Afghan Star, Iran-bred singer Elaha Soroor. Plans for a return to India, of course, is also in the works. Giuliano says, “We’re definitely coming back every year. We’re discussing shows right now.”
