Jazz has finally arrived, says Louiz Banks

In his book Taj Mahal Foxtrot: The Story of Bombay’s Jazz Age, writer Naresh Fernandes writes: “In its heyday, in the three decades from 1935, jazz seemed to perfectly embody the spirit of Bombay, a slightly wild port city that knew that a tune sounded better when it made room for instruments of all timbres and tones; a city that could be really pretty when it took things slow but which gave you a thrill when it was working at double time; a city that forced you to make it up as you went along; a city that gave everyone the space to play their own melody the way they heard it. That era has passed.”

That era might have passed, but a group of musicians in the city are still excited about jazz and the Ziziland Jazz Festival is a nod to nostalgia.

Conceptualised and curated by ‘Live At The’ (LAT), formally known as Homegrown India it aims to not only get jazz lovers excited but also expose people to the world of jazz music.

The festival will also be celebrating the 100th birthday of famous American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. D. Wood, the co-founder of Bombay Jazz Club, says, “She was a true pioneer of jazz improvisation, exploring new vocal approaches and techniques that let her wail and invent like the great horn players of her era. Her singing and vocal interpretations were the stuff of masterpieces. Her impeccable sense of time and phrasing, magnificent stage presence and her warmth and humour made her one of the greatest performers of her time.”

Among other musicians set to perform at the festival is Samantha Edwards. According to her, Ella was the queen of jazz. “Vocal jazz came to the fore and took centre stage when Ella came into the scene. For all the beautiful music she opened up to the world, celebrating Ella is the least we can do. It is important to celebrate her centenary so that we are also able to let the world rediscover her music and appreciate all that Ella was and let her legacy live on,” she explains.

With more and more jazz evenings being organised in the city, jazz exponent Louiz Banks is hoping for a revival. “The jazz scene in the city is most certainly on a revival mode. Gauging from the number of clubs that are mushrooming everywhere where jazz music is being played, there’s been a great boost for jazz and upcoming jazz musicians,” he says adding, “A discerning audience and sophisticated and sensitive listening is on the rise with youngsters — seems like jazz has finally arrived!”

On July 8,  at St. Andrew’s Auditorium, Bandra