Organised by Art Escape’s The Live Music Project, Gatecrash and Jazz in India, this aims at creating an enriching collective experience for music lovers, especially jazz fiends, for three days, from November 27 to 29, at Stone Water Eco Resort in Goa.
Although widely regarded as just another sun-kissed holiday destination, Goa is turning host to a new kind of revolution in the sound and art space. The state, which has contributed to the inception and evolution of India’s jazz scene, is set to host the Goa International Jazz Live Festival (GIJLF) 2015. Organised by Art Escape’s The Live Music Project, Gatecrash and Jazz in India, this aims at creating an enriching collective experience for music lovers, especially jazz fiends, for three days, from November 27 to 29, at Stone Water Eco Resort in Goa.
“The festival, since its inception, has been exposing Goa and India to new sounds of jazz that are currently evolving in Europe,” says Vinesh Iyer, co-director of the festival with Darryl Noronha. The duo are targeting the youth, a deviation from the usual idea of jazz being for a slightly senior audience. “The new sounds are important, as they introduce sub genres that connect with all music lovers, as opposed to traditional jazz, which attracts a certain class and is often termed elitist,” he says, adding that music pumps through the veins of Goans. The state is well-known for producing musicians who travelled to Mumbai and contributed to the evolution of jazz there, with some even making their way to Bollywood.
Dainius Pulauskas Group (Lithuania)
At the festival, the organisers aspire to take audiences through a varied auditory landscape, with progressive, nu-jazz, bluesy, funky, groovy and zen music performed by 11 bands from 10 countries. The lineup includes Vivienne Pocha Ensemble (India), Mezcal Jazz Unit (France), Aldoc (Ireland), Dainius Pulauskas Group (Lithuania), Khamira (Wales, UK / India), Alex Stuart Quintet (Australia), The Jass B’stards (India), Nik Ba¨rtsch’s Ronin (Switzerland), Kekko Fornarelli Trio (Italy), Jeff Herr Corporation (Luxembourg) and Gabacho Maroconnection (Morocco).
The festival will also see a special screening of Bardroy Barretto’s Konkani directorial, Nachom-ia Kumpasar, based on the lives of the legendary Lorna Cordeiro and Chris Perry. A Green Zone will have artists selling eco-friendly material and Jazz Journal, a comprehensive magazine containing jazz-related articles, will be launched.
While Mumbai-based vocalist Vivienne Pocha will open the GIJLF with her soulful vocals, another Indian band, the Jazz B’stards, featuring a groovy psychedelic sound with a Latin twist, will perform on day two. The international highlights include Irish band Aldoc, which hails from an Afro-hip-hop blues background, and uses flutes, whistles and guitars with chant-like vocals, jazz-tinged arrangements, heavy grooves and dramatic breakdowns. The Mezcal Jazz Unit from France is a reflection of traditional Mediterranean melodies, rock-like energy coupled with a sense of humour. “The idea is to bring together the young and old maestros, unsung heroes of jazz in India and the best of new age jazz from around Europe,” adds Iyer, who also has on board Astri Ghosh of Capital Jazz.
Meanwhile, the footfall is on the rise. “We expect more than 1,000-1,500 people per day, which is quite a figure to get in Goa. People are expected from Delhi and Mumbai as well,” says Iyer.
GIJLF will host a special screening of Bardroy Barretto’s Konkani directorial, ‘Nachom-ia Kumpasar’, which is based on the lives of the legendary Lorna Cordeiro and Chris Perry. The festival will also see the launch of the first Jazz Journal, a comprehensive magazine containing information on jazz clubs, organisations, schools, bands artistes, interviews as well as festivals in other cities. There will also be a Green Zone, where artists can sell items made of eco-friendly material.