Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2013 - bringing musicians together

Surya Nepal Jazzmandu, formally known as the Surya Nepal International Kathmandu Jazz Festival, will once again bring International and Nepali musicians together in the Nepali capital for its 11th edition of “the biggest jazz party in the Himalayas”.

Jazzmandu 2013

Surya Nepal Jazzmandu, formally known as the Surya Nepal International Kathmandu Jazz Festival, will once again bring International and Nepali musicians together in the Nepali capital for its 11th edition of “the biggest jazz party in the Himalayas”.

Since its inception eleven years ago, the festival has grown to become a respected event among music enthusiasts and musicians alike, and an additional attraction for visitors to Nepal. The festival has been instrumental in placing Nepal on the International jazz map and jazz music has now found a place of its own in the heart of the Himalayas.

Over the years, Surya Nepal Jazzmandu has succeeded in not only introducing jazz to Nepal, but also in generating a growing interest for music education and western music traditions. Local musicians who have been exposed to jazz have expanded their creativity, explored new techniques and the freedom of improvisation in playing familiar instruments. The Jazz for the Next Generation competition is now a well established feature of the festival that provides an opportunity for aspiring local young bands to showcase their skills and talent and interact with renowned foreign artists.

The international language of music dismisses narrow socio-cultural divides and cuts across our differences of culture, color, faith, geography to promote peace and compassion in a world in great need of understanding, empathy and tolerance. Surya Nepal Jazzmandu provides an exciting platform for musicians and people of all walks of life to come together through their love of music.

Over the years, the festival has provided free shows for the general public, jazz performances for school students, master classes and workshops by visiting artists for music enthusiasts and students. Over the past eleven years Surya Nepal Jazzmandu has introduced people in Nepal to many great, world-famous jazz artists such as Trilok Gurtu, Louis Banks, Natalie Williams, Ari Hoenig, Tito Puente Jr, Mark Brown Band, and Catia Werneck Quartet to name but a few.

Visiting artists in turn have had the chance to discover and enjoy the rich culture, beauty and diversity of Nepal, to meet and share musical experiences, and jam together with renowned local musicians and other international artists.

The festival presents a unique blend of cultures, musicians and improvisational music to create a magical and unforgettable musical experience in the heart of the Himalayas. Surya Nepal Jazzmandu has successfully brought many reputed musicians from far and wide to the Nepali capital where an ever-growing audience of jazz enthusiasts and music lovers crave quality music. Jazz has permeated cultures all over the world and Surya Nepal Jazzmandu continues to bring musicians from diverse backgrounds to present their unique and refreshing approach to jazz.

This year, the festival features The Claudia Quintet (USA), Mike del Ferro (The Netherlands), Eliane Amherd (Switzerland), Yaite Ramos Quartet (France), 4th Element (India), and from Nepal: Cademza, Gandharva, Joint Family Internationale, the KJC faculty and the Dhime Girls

For more information about the festival and complete artists profiles log on to www.jazzmandu.org.

- EFNI

Kingfisher Strong Backstage - bringing budding artists to the fore

Annie Chawla at Kingfisher Strong Backstage

Kingfisher Strong Backstage, a musical series for promising artists was launched in June, 2013. KSB is a concept where fresh compositions of budding artists are uploaded on Kingfisher’s various digital channels. The project has already taken the social media users by storm.

Till August, performances of eight artists which have been uploaded on Kingfisher’s Facebook page, website and YouTube Channel have garnered more than 2 lac views. The video performances have received more than 70,000 likes within a month, proving love for Indian music and musicians.The artists include Annie Chawla, Mannu Singh, Kaamod Subhash , Siddharth Bhavsar, Arpita Chakraborty and Jatin Udasiand Suraj Bharttiwhose. The artists were chosen from across the country and include people from all walks of life.

Kingfisher Strong Backstage aims to create an exceptional journey through the heart and soul of Indian music, using the digital medium and providing an opportunity to musicians to showcase their talent.

Check out the performances of the artists on Facebook and this website.

An Artist at Kingfisher Strong Backstage

Arpita Chakraborty at Kingfisher Strong Backstage

Mannu Singh at Kingfisher Strong Backstage

- EFNI

Grammy award winning Deep Forest to perform at ‘Deep India’ concert

Eric Mouquet (Deep Forest)

Deep Forest, the Grammy Award winning band from France will be performing for the first time in India at 'Deep India' concert on Thursday, December 13. The venue Vivanta by Taj at MG Road, Bangalore in collaboration with Sony Music will showcase this musical evening.

Deep Forest, comprising of  Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet, was nominated for a Grammy Award for the first time in 1994 and won the award for the album 'Boheme' in 1995. The band is known for their unique music, also known as 'ethnic electronica'.

The band will be performing in the city to celebrate the “one with nature” rainforest retreat 'Vivanta Madikeri Coorg'. Their collaboration with Santoor maestro Rahul Sharma will be available in an upcoming album ‘Deep India’. One of the tracks from the album is a tribute to Vivanta by Taj - Madikeri, Coorg, a visually stunning rainforest retreat spread across 180 acres.

Tickets of the event are priced at Rs.2000 and one can contact 080-6660-4444 for advance booking.

Vivanta by Taj Currently comprises of 25 hotels and resorts in India and the Indian Ocean region. Vivanta by Taj is represented across key metropolitan capitals as well as popular holiday destinations like Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

- EFNI

Soulmate to open for Santana concert in Delhi, India

Tipriti and Rudy (Photo - Facebook)

Shillong, Oct 17 (IANS): He has been a fan of legendary musician Carlos Santana since he was 10 years old and now at 50, guitarist Rudy Wallang gets a chance to open a show to welcome the iconic Mexican-American guitarist at the Formula One Rocks concert in Greater Noida, adjacent to national capital New Delhi, later this month. The feeling is ecstatic, he says.

Wallang, guitarist with the Shillong-based blues rock band Soulmate, will open the show for Santana along with his bandmates on Oct 28.

"It was a dream....and it has come true for me and Tips (Tipriti Kharbangar, the lead vocalist) as well," Soulmate lead guitarist Rudy Wallang told IANS.

"I first heard 'Black Magic Woman' when I was about 10 years old and the first notes of that song are still stuck in my soul," the Shillong-born musician said and added that he doesn't know whether Santana will jam with him on stage.

Wallang is one of the foremost singer-songwriter-blues guitar player in the country with a long musical history. He has been part of well-known blues rock acts - Great Society & Mojo.

"It is an honour for us to open the act for global music icon Carlos Santana. Our music derives inspiration from his legendary compositions. It is like a dream come true for us. We are looking forward to this special moment," said Wallang with a smile.

"I have also composed a song called 'Moon Magic' back in 1983-84, which was my tribute to Santana and we will be playing it at the concert," Wallang revealed.

Santana, 65, has sold more than 100 million records and has won 10 Grammy Awards.

Tipriti, fondly called Tips, said: "I am lost for words now. I have seen him only on television. I am looking forward to playing and talking with Carlos Santana. I am sure it will be a magical moment for me and our band."

The 29-year-old has earned a name as one of the finest female singers to have emerged out of Shillong and India as a whole.

Tips, however, admitted that she started feeling for Santana's music when she heard his version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

"These tunes are capturing the imagination of our generation. His music is full of thoughts, meaning and feelings," she said.

"We are all geared up to create history in music by performing as the opening act for Santana," she added.

The musicians backing Soulmate are Leon Wallang(Bass), Shaun Nonghulo (Drums)and Raveen Pandey (Hammond Organ).

The band has given as many as 500 performances in the country and abroad, including in countries like the US, France, Germany, Sweden, Singapore, Indonesia Bhutan and Nepal.

Soulmate has recorded two albums thus far - "Shillong" and "Moving On" - and is in the process of putting down songs for the next one.

"Carlos Santana's music spans over four decades. Being a multi-Grammy Award winner, he is a perfect fit to headline this year's F1 Rocks, as also to bring mainstream music in the popular genre of Rock music to a wider fan base in India," said T. Venkat Vardhan, MD of event management company DNA Networks.

- EFNI