| Username |
Post |
| ashu |
Posted
on 24-Feb-03 07:52 AM
Starting this coming Friday, Kathmandu is gearing up for a Jazz Festival that's going
to last for the next two weeks.
Musicians from Mumbai, Amsterdam, Australia, Norway, New York Paris and Kathmandu are going to play jazz in and out of Kathnmandu
Check out the details at:
http://kathmandujazzfestival.com
For a detailed write-up, check out:
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/issue133/festival.htm
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| chakrapath |
Posted
on 24-Feb-03 09:59 AM
Hi Ashu,
I am aware of it too. I will be in Kathmandu during that time and I might go to one or two shows there.
c
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| ashu |
Posted
on 24-Feb-03 10:17 AM
RP,
In that case, let's meet up and do guff-suff about life, jazz and more on one of those evenings.
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| czar |
Posted
on 24-Feb-03 10:35 PM
How times have changed. I recollect a time when a superb performance by a renowned jazz artiste at city hall was marred by some idiots who yelled “We want rock.” One of those moments when one wished stun guns were issued to ushers.
Many south Asians have rich traditions of music to draw upon, yet very few have ventured into the razzmatazz of free wheeling musical expression. Pandit Ravi Shankher played with John McLaughlin but he’s the exception. Unless one was to point out that his daughter made a clean sweep of the Grammies singing some jazz. It might be argued that her links to Asia are tenuous at best.
A few Japanese took to jazz like ducks to water with them leading the charge on fusion. Sadao Watanabe, Hiroshima and Keiko Matsui being some strong examples. Post WWI American presence there may have something to do with it one suspects though. The other example is Kitaro, though stylistically oft repetitive, drew from traditional music and melded it with modern electronic instruments to create a distinctive sound.
It took the he maverick and brash spirited Americans to create jazz. Asian musicians are grounded too deeply in tradition and culture of unquestioning obedience to guru and devotion to tradition to have the rebellious and experimental soul needed for it.
That it has started to take root there and even has an audience for it is heartening.
Even the mostly crappy Bollywood song sometimes short segments in them where the flute or other traditional instrument showcases their stuff. I have oft wondered why those artistes wouldn’t use those superb skills to play jazz. Perhaps I may yet get my wish.
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| hangu lama |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:03 AM
wow1 jazz festival rey.....i guess things have changed so much in nepal. Wish i was there at that time.
yes czar, one of favorite guitarist is kazumi watanabe. i'm sure you've heard his stuffs.
and ofcourse other guitar gods like stanley jordan, di meola, pat metheny and others.
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| ashu |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 08:35 PM
Truth be told, the audience for most of these jazz sessions will be composed mainly of expats who miss their Londons, their New Yorks and their Montreals . . . with a few Nepalis here and there.
But it's only with exposure to jazz on an anual basis like this that one can expect that more and more Nepalis will turn out for future such concerts.
That said, if everythng goes well, in coming years, this kind of Festival might be more listed as an event on international jazz circuit . . . and that would be a good thing.
Anything that aims to put Nepal on the map is praiseworthy.
On another note, I understand that a Nepali by the pen name of Louise Banks used
to play jazz in Mumbai. He was/is supposed to have been very, very good.
Does anyone know more about him?
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:07 PM
Could Louise Banks be Chris Masand? Chris is Nepali, went to Mumbai (trained there...I think) and is an excellent musician /composer. He has produced some CDs with very jazzy Nepali songs (not very palatable to the locals); apparently he has his own fan-following.
CZAR:
Kitaro, just one word: Beautiful!
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| ashu |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:43 PM
Sitara,
Chris used to play at Rum Doodle in Thamel, and, these days, I see his name in various newspaper ads, saying that he is playing at such-and-such restaurants and bars on such and such days. His specialty, among others, seems to be Latin Jazz.
Chris and Louise are as different people as Sitara and Tara :-)
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
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| czar |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:43 PM
George Banks, an Anglo-Indian, was a well known pianist who played in the Calcutta club circuit in the 50's and 60's. One son, Louise Banks, spent a few years in Nepal in the late 70's but headed for greener pastures in Bombay.
Last I heard, Stanley Jordan was afflicted with arthritis. Tragic. The only other time I ever heard anyone play in that unique style was a chap just outside the subway stop in Georgetown, DC.
Joe Satriani, Larry Carlton and Chieli Minucci are some worthy musicans for those interested in guitar. The ultimate guitar gods are Paco de Lucia, Al di Meola and John McLaughlin who did an album together. One guitar god not known outside musical circles is John Williams [not to be confused with the bloke who writes music for Hollywood blockbusters]. Anyone for flamenco?
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| khimberly |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:49 PM
thats cool it is American Jaaz festival or...?
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| ashu |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 09:51 PM
Flamenco?
More like belly-dancing for this time, Czar.
It so happens that there's this lady from the Middle East who's putting on a seductively swaying belly-dancing performance at Hyatt at Bauddha this Friday evening. I assume couscous, hummous (sp?) and pita bread and, and my favorite, falafal will be served to the guests.
Ah, signs that Kathmandu -- for better or worse -- is becoming more cosmopolitan.
Thanks for the info on the Banks.
oohi
ashu
tm,nepal
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| PremPujari |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 10:00 PM
Louis Banks is not Chris Masand.
Louis Banks is Nepali, living in Mumbai. His real name is Dambar Bahadur. Few months ago, he was in some Indian channel as a guest in some talent show or something, and he proudly announced that he is a Nepali. He even crooned "ye kancha thattai maryo". He is the most reputed keyboard player in India, and also one of the best progressive jazz players. He is amazing when it comes to fusion and improvisation. He is a part of some fusion band, one with Ustad Zakir Hussain, and the other one with Shankar Mahadevan (Listen/download his breathless song -- it's really breathless), Shivamani (A veteran percussionist -- He used to play for A. R. Rahman. If you have heard any Rahman's album that came before Lagaan, he is the man responsible for those complex beats. For example, movie Taal). Louis is also one of the most popular ad-makers in India. Remember the song for cadbury Five stars chocolate? The first time I heard "Mile sur mera tumhara" on Doordarshan, I was interested on finding the man behind the music. Louis Banks was the man behind it.
About Chris Masand, I've hanged out with him couple of times. He is some AngloIndian-Nepali or something. He is a genius, a very good on keyboard. An unfortunate one, as far as Nepali Pop song is concerned. I heard some of the songs from the Demo Album he made with Bijay shah or malla (the movie actor/pilot/singer) and it was awesome. As far as i know, the album never came out. I don't know what he is doing right now.
khoi ke ke ke ke.
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| Dr. No |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 10:02 PM
Kudos to Cheddup Bomzom for organizing this fest. I used to like hanging out in Upstairs..his little bar in Lazimpat across from the French embassy.
Charlie Parker, Miles Davis "Picasso of Jazz"and Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane are my favorites of yesteryear and Wynton Marselis, Syro Gyra, Joe Lovano from recent times.
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| czar |
Posted
on 25-Feb-03 10:14 PM
Aha ! Its Cheddup who is organizing this shinding eh ? Woohoo, party time!
Dr. No, if you like Spyro Gyra, give the Yellow Jackets a try too then. You may also like Joe Zawinul too.
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| Suna |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 08:25 AM
Louis banks spent a good number of years in Darjeeling as a teacher at St. Josephs School and in his early days. Went to school at DGH if I'm not mistaken. Dad - anglo, mom- nepali. In fact, hard-core darjeelingeys claim he is from the queen of the hills :).
Dad - anglo, mom- nepali.
Quite a combination if you ask me!
Awesome n'est ce pas?
A little bit of nepali in his veins....(please sing to the tune of a little bit of monica..snows doing it to me!)
I saw the jazz concert of Didier Lockwood where people were going: we want rock!!
Music has come a long way!
Cheddup..:)..ah those mundris!
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 09:26 AM
Ashu ji and PP ji;
Certainly Sitara= a musical instrument not a Tara!!! Kasto bhram, myth, hype!!! :(
Thank you! :)
Suna, your kids getting out early? We are!.....balla balla school "safely" (ladhdai padhdai, chiplindai) pugeko...they announced early school closing! It is baaaaaaaaaaaaaaad out in the streets!
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| ashu |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 10:30 AM
Thanks Suna, Czar and PP for further info.
What would life be without google.com?
Here's what I located about Damber Bahadur Budhapriti aka Mr `Jazz’ Louis Banks.
The father of Indian jazz is a person of Nepali origins.
Great, isn't it?
oohi
ashu
ktm,nepal
***********************
He is the man behind the lilting, haunting, musical score of the much talked about Mera Bharat Mahan that made it big on the small screen. Countless commercial jingles have been thought up by Mr `Jazz’ Louis Banks. But if Damber Bahadur Budhapriti – that’s his real Nepalese name -- wasn’t in the world of jazz and jingles, he might have been a painter. Louis was given the name by his father after the great Louis Armstrong. He has been playing since the age of 13 with his father at Calcutta hotels. During this time he played the trumpet and guitar even as he taught himself classical piano. It was in the ‘70s that Louis Banks hit the scene by getting together a band – singer Pam Craine and saxophonist Braz Gonsalves and named it The Louis Banks Brotherhood. He began composing for films with An August Requiem. Around 1984 he got on to electronic instruments and began writing for commercials. Fusion has played a big part in the life of this jazz man and Louis has played with some of the world’s greatest jazz men to create very memorable music.
www.india-today.com/mtoday/profiles/banks.html
*************
Louis Banks
the "Godfather of Jazz in India".
LOUIS BANKS - Piano
He is India's premier Jazz pianist since the last two decades as well as aprolific composer of music sound tracks for theater, stage and feature films. He continues to be the most sought after music composer of jingles, corporate anthems, audio visuals and documentaries.In fact, he is considered to be the most prolific composer of advertising jingles having recorded an incredible 7000 jingles in a span of 10 years. He is a sure fire bet for an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records on this score. Despite his tremendous commercial success, his first love remains Jazz.
He has performed along with Jazz greats like Yolande Bavan, Charlie Mariano, Charlie Byrd among others and toured all over India with the legendary Dizzy Gillespie.He has also performed in Russia, throughout Europe, Australia,
China, United Arab Emigrates and Kuwait. Currently, he is writing and recording India's first mega Broadway musical in collaboration with one of India's greatest theater personalities - Alyque Padamsee.
He regularly hosts a popular Jazz Hour Broadcast entitled "THE LOUIS BANKS JAZZ
HOUR SPECIAL". He holds a Jazz concert every fortnight at the American Center in Bombay. Three albums are scheduled to be released this year
including a personal Jazz Album with the American saxophonist Carl Clements.
Louis Banks has been widely acclaimed to be the "Godfather of Jazz in India".
http://www.dissidenten.com/louis/
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| Suna |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 11:10 AM
Montgomery County School Administrators apparently are not willing to give up on their summer vacation days hence when everybody else called school closings, MC sat zipped. Now that the kids are SAFELY in school, they want to close the schools!
URGHHHHH!
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| Dilasha |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 11:47 AM
Thanks for the info on jazz and the "jazz man" Banks. I'd also heard about him when I was in nepal, it's great to know that a fellow nepali has been contributing to such a great extent in the music industry. tesmathi pani "jazz" wow! Enjoy the festival Ashu, would love to hear your "tika tippani" on it.
And what's going on in the east coast? looks like the Minnesotan cold and the snow have shifted it's direction much to the dismay of ski lovers like me and here we are complaining about not having snow for the past three four weeks. Suna and sitara dijus, stay warm, bundle up and drink hot tea with popcorn! :)
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| PremPujari |
Posted
on 26-Feb-03 12:11 PM
jazz ta ghyampe le po dincha ta, Suththa taanya bela!!
Amin9thadd13th CHORD ma!!
~~"can't get her outta maah head"
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