Musicians promote unique ‘Madras Jazz’ for Chennai's birthday

Madras Jazz, a style that blends good ol’ swing with the local flavour of Carnatic notes, is a perfect reflection of the city’s multiculturalinfluences, say musicians who have fused the two genres to showcase a brand of jazz music unique to Chennai.

According to musicians, Madras has always had a strong jazz tradition. “Thanks to our colonial history, we have had jazz bands playing at the Taj Connemara back in the day,” said noted pianist Anil Srinivasan, who has given melodies of Carnatic composers a jazz treatment, concocting a style that could only be described as ‘Madras Jazz’. “Inspired by Chennai and its culture, this is a style that I have been spearheading, using the piano in musical cultures that the city is famous for. During the last few months, we have been taking Carnatic motifs and melodies from city-based composers – such as Paartha Nyabagam Illaiyo by MS Viswanathan – and repopulating it with a jazz vocabulary. We have produced some nice numbers,” said the composer.

Adam Greig, Head of Faculty, at AR Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory, pointed out that jazz is a musical form known for its many variants and genres, “much like the recipes for sambar in south India.” Some of the main ingredients of jazz can be found in Carnatic tradition, namely complex rhythmic patterns and improvisation. “For Madras Jazz to exist, the music has to marinate in the different genres, cook a bit, and then be sampled. We are just beginning to see the first batches of Madras Jazz ready for consumption,” said Adam.

“Although originating from AfricanAmerican communities of New Orleans, the elements of jazz kept on amalgamating local elements. French Jazz, Latin Jazz, Gypsy Jazz, and so why not Madras Jazz,” said the musicologist. Eddie Prithviraj, Managing Director, Unwind Center, is providing a space for live jazz acts through their ‘Madras Jazz Hub’, which will be inaugurated by bass guitarist Keith Peters and saxophonist Maarten Visser.

“We wanted to encourage upcoming artists, who are experimenting with fusing diverse styles in jazz.

We have two great musicians performing on August 24. We want the awareness of jazz to be passed on to the next generation,” concluded the organiser of Madras Jazz Festival.