KATHMANDU, Nov 2: If you are a jazz buff then, Jazzmandu, an annual festival that brings jazz music is a must-attend event for you. The “19th Kathmandu Jazz Festival 2023", has kicked off for one week from today (November 2) to next Wednesday (November 8) in Kathmandu.

This year's festival, under the banner "Music for Unity, Peace, and Compassion," promises to infuse the city with the genre's unique and soulful melodies. The first event, themed ‘Concert for School Students’, successfully concluded at St Xaviers School. 

Similarly, ‘Grrovinn’ at upstairs’ will be held today itself in the evening. On Friday, a diverse lineup of musicians from France (Lucile Chriqui Quartet), Netherlands (Under the Surface), (Plurism Featuring Feya Faku ) Switzerland and South Africa, Australia and the USA (Candenza Collective Featuring Nick Aggs Palouse Forro) along with Nepal (Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi of Sukarma band)  will showcase jazz music at various venues.

Saturday brings the enchantment of open-air jazz at the Gokarna Forest Resort. On Monday, the musical journey continues with Brazilian and Afro jazz tunes at Mulchowk, Baber Mahal, followed by another captivating performance at Patan Dhoka on Tuesday. The audience can also experience a fusion of Nepali classical music and jazz at Patan Dhoka later that evening.

The grand finale of Jazzmandu 2023 will take place on Wednesday as the full lineup comes together for a spectacular closing event at Hotel Yak and Yeti in Durbar Marg.

Musicians and music enthusiasts can further engage in free music workshops on November 7, hosted at Yalamaya Kendra/Patan Dhoka and The Music Room/Bhatbhateni in the morning and afternoon.