Jazz fest in Mumbai celebrates 100 years of Ella Fitzgerald

D Wood and Louiz Banks

In March 1978, Mumbai's Jazz fans came together under a star-lit sky at Rang Bhavan, an open-air auditorium, to witness the birth of Jazz Yatra, India's first international festival celebrating the genre. The musical feast was packed with performances by international and homegrown artistes, including Don Ellis Quintet and Jazz-India ensemble featuring Louiz Banks and Braz Gonsalves. It became a must-attend on every Jazz lover's calendar, until 2004, when it was disbanded.

Samantha Edwards and Gino Banks

This Saturday, Nevil Timbadia and Saumya Khona, co-founders of Live At The, which produces theatre, comedy and music shows, will rekindle the city's love for all things Jazz at the debut edition of Ziziland Jazz Festival. "The idea is to reintroduce Mumbai to the Jazz greats, since the amazing Jazz Yatra doesn't happen any more. We aim to make this an annual affair, moving it to February or March next year. Hopefully, in the future, we will bring in modern Jazz, too,"
shares Timbadia.

Sheldon D'Silva

Celebrating Ella
The one-night only showcase will include two segments. In the first, Bombay Jazz Club, featuring Samantha Edwards (vocals), D Wood (bass), Karim Ellaboudi (keys) and Aron Nyiro (drums), will pay tribute to the Queen of Jazz, Ella Fitzgerald, on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary that fell in April. "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. She had an impeccable sense of time and phrasing, magnificent stage presence, and warmth and humour, which made her one of the greatest performers of her time," says Wood.

Ella Fitzgerald. Pic/Getty Images

The quartet will perform Fitzgerald's songs that portray her versatility, including her rendition of Mack the Knife that Edwards first sang when she was eight years old. "Vocal Jazz took centre stage when Ella came into the scene. It is important to celebrate her centenary, so that we are able to let the world rediscover her music and let her legacy live on," says the vocalist with 25 years of experience.

Return of the Jazz
The second segment will showcase The Rat Pack Songbook. Probably the only singer and trio ensemble band in India, it features India's leading Jazz pianist and keyboardist Louiz Banks and son and drummer Gino, singer Gary Lawyer and dynamic bassist Sheldon D'Silva. "We are planning a selective repertoire from the American Songbook, focusing on the songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin, who were collectively called the Rat Pack. It will be a mix of songs like Birth of the Blues, Sway and The Lady is a Tramp," says Banks junior.

Spearheading the Jazz movement in the country for the past three decades, Banks senior believes that Jazz has finally arrived. "Gauging the number of clubs that are playing the genre, it's a boost for the music and budding Jazz musicians. It's interesting to see that a discerning audience, especially youngsters with a sophisticated ear, is on the rise."

On: July 8, 6 pm onwards
At: St Andrew's Auditorium, St Dominic Road, Bandra West.
Log on to: insider.in
Entry: '848 to '1060