A dimly lit bar with vintage leather chairs, the clinking of whisky glasses and cigar smoke in the air – a typical jazz bar and a typical Chennai vibe may not sound good together. But come Jazz Fridays at Hyatt Regency’s Lounge Bar 365 AS, and you find packed tables, a mix of young and old, among them beautiful sari-clad women, enjoying sax and bass over drinks.
This is perhaps the first time such a regular jazz show is being organised in the city, but “it was not easy to attract a crowd”, says Wajeeha Anwar, who coordinates the musicians, most of whom are from Auroville in Puducherry. “When we started with Exclusive Jazz Fridays last year, very few people came, but we decided not to give up. And now all the tables are already booked.”
Among other establishments in the city, jazz is also prominent at Cafe Mercara Express at ITC Grand Chola, which also features a band of talented local musicians.
But it’s not just luxury hotels showing a new interest in jazz music. The genre is being revived slowly but steadily in the city. “It’s like an Olympic torch being handed over to different cities,” says Chennai-based guitarist, singer and composer Kirtan Krishna, who lives in Auroville. “Ten years ago, Bangalore held the torch, now the scene there has calmed down a bit and Chennai has stepped right in. A lot of students are developing an interest in it.”
Chennai and jazz have always had a good relationship, with many live bands performing in the 1970s and 1980s, recalls Ajit Diaz, a former musician who started the jazz evenings at the Hyatt. “It was the golden age of jazz with pop and jazz rock becoming mainstream in the West. Musicians here also embraced ragas, but it was always a niche audience, and never made money like pop or rock. There are still many talented musicians who need a platform, and many were happy to perform, not just for the money. Also, now I see younger people getting hooked to it again.”
Ajit hopes to soon open a club for jazz. “Jazz solos are never repeated, so you never hear the same piece twice, and that’s the beauty of it.”
Jazz is not a beginner’s genre and has always appealed to a larger audience, but the jazz performance-workshops held on Tuesdays at the Unwind Centre in Adyar are attended by youngsters and music professionals from all genres, says founder Addison Prithviraj. “In the two years since we started, many people have developed a love for jazz. This is all possible only because of musician Maarten Visser.”
Saxophonist Maarten, a native of the Netherlands, has been living in Chennai for two decades and has been instrumental in reviving jazz in the city. “Not everyone would feel comfortable going to a posh hotel. People who come to the Unwind Centre come from all walks of life and age groups,” says Maarten, who performs regularly at the Hyatt and whose band ‘Many Things’ is one of the very few bands that play jazz and blues.
Addison is also behind the ‘Madras Jazz Festival’, which will be held this year, though the festival has not been held for many years due to Covid-19. “Our line-up is almost ready, including some international artistes as usual,” he says. “The genre exists thanks to many unsung heroes who kept it alive in Chennai for decades. Many musicians have given up.” At the same time, he says, the niche audience that comes to the festival is very discerning.
Wesley Crispus, who teaches woodwind instruments and jazz theory at Chennai’s KM College of Music and who also frequently performs in the city as part of the band Staccato, says, “We still get audiences who know when to clap.” Bands like Postmodern Jukebox, which performs jazz covers of popular songs, have also piqued the interest of young music aspirants, says Wesley. “They now demand specific instruments like the saxophone. Some are children of parents who used to listen to jazz on vinyl records. But anyone who is good at instrumental music can be a good jazz musician,” says Wesley. “Jazz is about the notes you play, not if the expressions are rhythmic.”
The rhythmic aspect is also where Carnatic and jazz meet, says Kirtana, who has her own band, the Kirtana Krishna Quartet. “The beauty of jazz is that it is constantly evolving. When jazz and Carnatic music blend, incredible things happen.”
In a city like Chennai, the element that stops traditional Carnatic musicians is the harmony in jazz, which is absent in classical music, she says. She explains that jazz harmony uses intervals and dissonances that are not usually used in classical music.
“Melody is given more respect than harmony. But both Carnatic and jazz musicians are comfortable experimenting and exploring rhythm elements present in both genres. Through konnakol, the expression of Carnatic rhythm can be seen within the larger framework of jazz.”
This is perhaps the first time such a regular jazz show is being organised in the city, but “it was not easy to attract a crowd”, says Wajeeha Anwar, who coordinates the musicians, most of whom are from Auroville in Puducherry. “When we started with Exclusive Jazz Fridays last year, very few people came, but we decided not to give up. And now all the tables are already booked.”
Among other establishments in the city, jazz is also prominent at Cafe Mercara Express at ITC Grand Chola, which also features a band of talented local musicians.
But it’s not just luxury hotels showing a new interest in jazz music. The genre is being revived slowly but steadily in the city. “It’s like an Olympic torch being handed over to different cities,” says Chennai-based guitarist, singer and composer Kirtan Krishna, who lives in Auroville. “Ten years ago, Bangalore held the torch, now the scene there has calmed down a bit and Chennai has stepped right in. A lot of students are developing an interest in it.”
Chennai and jazz have always had a good relationship, with many live bands performing in the 1970s and 1980s, recalls Ajit Diaz, a former musician who started the jazz evenings at the Hyatt. “It was the golden age of jazz with pop and jazz rock becoming mainstream in the West. Musicians here also embraced ragas, but it was always a niche audience, and never made money like pop or rock. There are still many talented musicians who need a platform, and many were happy to perform, not just for the money. Also, now I see younger people getting hooked to it again.”
Ajit hopes to soon open a club for jazz. “Jazz solos are never repeated, so you never hear the same piece twice, and that’s the beauty of it.”
Jazz is not a beginner’s genre and has always appealed to a larger audience, but the jazz performance-workshops held on Tuesdays at the Unwind Centre in Adyar are attended by youngsters and music professionals from all genres, says founder Addison Prithviraj. “In the two years since we started, many people have developed a love for jazz. This is all possible only because of musician Maarten Visser.”
Saxophonist Maarten, a native of the Netherlands, has been living in Chennai for two decades and has been instrumental in reviving jazz in the city. “Not everyone would feel comfortable going to a posh hotel. People who come to the Unwind Centre come from all walks of life and age groups,” says Maarten, who performs regularly at the Hyatt and whose band ‘Many Things’ is one of the very few bands that play jazz and blues.
Addison is also behind the ‘Madras Jazz Festival’, which will be held this year, though the festival has not been held for many years due to Covid-19. “Our line-up is almost ready, including some international artistes as usual,” he says. “The genre exists thanks to many unsung heroes who kept it alive in Chennai for decades. Many musicians have given up.” At the same time, he says, the niche audience that comes to the festival is very discerning.
Wesley Crispus, who teaches woodwind instruments and jazz theory at Chennai’s KM College of Music and who also frequently performs in the city as part of the band Staccato, says, “We still get audiences who know when to clap.” Bands like Postmodern Jukebox, which performs jazz covers of popular songs, have also piqued the interest of young music aspirants, says Wesley. “They now demand specific instruments like the saxophone. Some are children of parents who used to listen to jazz on vinyl records. But anyone who is good at instrumental music can be a good jazz musician,” says Wesley. “Jazz is about the notes you play, not if the expressions are rhythmic.”
The rhythmic aspect is also where Carnatic and jazz meet, says Kirtana, who has her own band, the Kirtana Krishna Quartet. “The beauty of jazz is that it is constantly evolving. When jazz and Carnatic music blend, incredible things happen.”
In a city like Chennai, the element that stops traditional Carnatic musicians is the harmony in jazz, which is absent in classical music, she says. She explains that jazz harmony uses intervals and dissonances that are not usually used in classical music.
“Melody is given more respect than harmony. But both Carnatic and jazz musicians are comfortable experimenting and exploring rhythm elements present in both genres. Through konnakol, the expression of Carnatic rhythm can be seen within the larger framework of jazz.”
