Entitled the The Jazz Bazaar, this musical extravaganza featured all Surya Nepal Jazzmandu 2011 bands and musicians. [break]
The concert that began from 2:30 pm ran smoothly with artists from Nepal and international musicians until 10 pm.
The audience comprising a mix of local as well as foreigners seemed too immersed into the jazz scene.
The ambience created by the music was such that almost everyone was swaying to the tunes. Nirajan Pyakuryal, 26, said, “Jazzmandu is one-of-a-kind event,” adding “the music today is so good that I haven’t been able to stand still from the moment I came in.”
Also among the swinging audiences were the Swiss band ‘bconnected.’ The band has already performed at two different venues and also judged the Jazz for the Next Generation Competition in Patan as part of Jazzmandu.
“We’re loving it here,” shared the band members who are on their first visit to Nepal. They, however, are already planning their second tour. “Each venue has a uniquely special feel to it. We love performing for the Nepali audience,” they said.
The band will further perform at the Patan Museum on Monday. The concert is going to be a fusion between them and Nepali artists.
The local bands that performed were Gandharva, with their Nepali folk tunes and instruments, and The Robin Lal Eastern Classical Trio with renowned tabla player Robin Lal. Also there were the Cadenza Collective, reuniting Jazzmandu regulars like Binoy Rai, Navin Chettri, and Samir Chettri.
The renowned Australian saxophonist Nick Aggs performed with The Cadenza Collective and definitely wowed the crowd with their fusion of Nepali classical and folk influences, jazz, afrobeat and funk.
Also building on a foundation of jazz, funk and afrobeat but with their own distinct sound, Window Seat, a quartet of accomplished Mumbai musicians, represented India at his year’s Jazzmandu Festival.
The most anticipated performance was of the Cuban League, a trio of the top New York bassist Yunior Terry, adventurous young pianist Alex Tosca Laugart, and vocalist Xiomara Laugart, from Cuba. This very band closed the concert.
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