Doing away with the torrid heat that had plagued Delhi over the past few weeks, the untiring rain shower of the previous weekend left all with a sense of comfort, and it seemed almost poetic that the Delhi Jazz International Festival took place in such delightful climatic conditions at Nehru Park.
Several thousands gathered, sporadically spread over grassy hillocks or seated comfortably before a massive lit stage, which read the word ‘Jazz’ against a background of a saxophone, guitar, violin and trumpet, eager to receive the specially curated assortment of international and Indian Jazz. This was the 7th edition of the highly vied for festival which has been attracting Jazz enthusiasts ever since 2011, and was organised by the India Council of Cultural Relations.
Held for three consecutive days one of the greenest stretches in the capital, on the list, this time there were seven international Jazz artists and collectives, from France, Israel, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, South Africa, and three from India, which included one from Kohima and two others from Bangaluru and Kolkata. And the entire essence lay in the experience which the festival strove to create, not simply for the audience or for the performers on stage but for the two of them as a pair — fairy lights, dew covered grass, thousands of swaying heads and shoulders and the music emanating from the stage which was the heart of it all. The increase in the attendance of the event in all likelihood is by dint of the ambience created; one could simply see numerous faces lying on bed sheets, dancing under trees covered with fairy lights or clicking pictures beside a large installation of a radiating saxophone.
On the second evening of the festival, a Mexican duet performed on stage: Tovalin-Mecardo. The duet comprised Amanda Tovalin, a 28-year-old Jazz musician who called the moment she fell in love with Jazz as the ‘Awakening’, and Alex Mecardo, a 43-year-old classical pianist who found a sense of freedom in the improvisational quality of Jazz.
Alex Mecardo spoke of his interpretation of Jazz, “It is a language that I use to express myself. It is the improvisation in Jazz that I draw pleasure from most,” added Mecardo, “It symbolises spontaneity — a sense of living in the present.”
As the conversation drew further they shared their joy of having an Indian audience, “See, the people needed time to figure us out. In the beginning there was silence, but then there was a moment to which they reacted, to which we then caught on and played,” added Tovalin, “and that’s how the Jazz experience takes place.”
Surge of energy
A South African collective called Motlalentwa, which had four members between the age of 18 and 28, concluded the very same evening. Full of energy and bringing to the enthusiasts in Delhi what is called as Afro Jazz.
The collective was clear as to what they had in mind, “The crowds here are calm, so we want to create a surge of energy — we bring a serious vibe!” exclaimed Tk Xaba, the lead guitarist and vocalist of the outfit.
Their story is one of a kind, Tk Xaba narrated, “I had a sound in my mind which I couldn’t let go of. We were four musicians in South Africa, separated by miles and it took us half a year to find each other.” Their efforts are also significant: seven hours everyday together as a band, four hours everyday as solo artists in the privacy of their homes. The crowd that roared back to the calls of Tk Xaba made the joy they brought to the stage evident — the energy of jubilation was infectious.
The Afro Jazz of Motlalentwa wasn’t all about energy or jubilation but was also underlined with a beautiful philosophy as shared by Xaba, “Ubuntu! In Africa it stands for ‘humanity’. That is what we want the people to feel — we are one.”
Indian hospitality
The artists from South Africa and Mexico both also remarked upon the hospitality offered by India as well, both Amanda and Xaba said the same words, “People here are so kind! That’s what draws us in to perform our best.” Although, they did also share a wish for more than 40 minutes of performance, “Well, you have to limit your number of songs because of the time,” said Amanda Tovalin.
From India, on the third evening, Nagaland’s Rattle and Hum put up a Jazz performance that really shone forth the kind of Jazz that has been brewing in India.
Rattle and Hum, composed of five members between the age of 31 and 47, made their way to Delhi from Kohima. Thejameru, a 47-year-old vocalist, who dabs in many genres and strongly works towards the propagation of music as way of life in the northeast, talked of how great the experience the festival proved to be for him and the members of his outfit, “We’re really impressed by how people organise such a festival.” Thejameru was excited just by the sight of how the Jazz genre is embraced in the capital city and also complimented the state for it, “Delhi sets a benchmark for many to look upto, and this is the sort of benchmark we need for Jazz and all other music to seep into the subcontinent.”
The Delhi Jazz International Festival, of all things, proved to be a unifying force, as Xaba said, “Music brings us together, whether India or South Africa. We show our love to each other in this special way.”
