SONODYNE JAZZ IT UP….
Lovers of jazz enjoyed a sensational weekend with performances by some of the most happening names in the international jazz circuit. The Congo Square Jazz Fest 2009, sound partnered by Sonodyne was dubbed the “biggest jazz festival in India” and featured more than 11 well-known bands. Jazz enthusiasts were offered a wide variety of listening choices, ranging from traditional jazz beats, jazz-funk and jazz-rock to a blend of fusion, touching on Indian classical music, with participating groups from Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the US. Featuring performances of an experimental nature, a hallmark of this annual fest, it also showcased the return to Calcutta of the American trio Beatlejazz with percussionist Brian Melvin in the lead, Dutch trumpeter Saskia Laroo , the duo of German guitarist Wolfgang Netzer and sarod player Ranajit Sengupta and the Mumbai-based Interplay, featuring some of the best-known names in contemporary jazz in India. The festival featured the fusion group of Netzer and Sengupta in the company of percussionist Ratul Shankar. This was followed by the Barcelona-based Jaime Vilaseca Quartet, a cutting-edge band in European contemporary jazz. The programme is dedicated to the memory of city-based vibraphonist/pianist Anthony Menezes, who died in August. Pondicherry-based French bass player Mishko M’ba and drummer Suresh Bascara also performed with singer Andrea Jeremiah and pianist Steven Devassy. The curtains came down on the festival with a performance by Interplay.
Sonodyne not only partnered Jazz fest Kolkata but also Jazz Fest Ahmedabad where just like Kolkata, Saskia Laroo mesmerised the crowd with her magical performance…