24 October,2017 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Shunashir Sen
Rashtriya Swing Sena, we mean. The jazz band hopes to bridge the gap between purist and contemporray notes
The Little Door in Andheri is called so because of the size of its entrance, which consists literally of a little blue door. You stoop down to enter a spacious L-shaped outdoor area, with a big glass door leading into a dimly-lit section inside, where the wooden décor extends to a stage area. That's where the venue hosts a property called All That Jazz every Tuesday. Tonight, it will feature a five-piece ensemble called Rashtriya Swing Sena (RSS).
Anurag Naidu
It's quite natural to infer political overtones in the band's name. But Nicholas Vaz, who formed and named RSS, insists that's not the case. "I basically wanted [the name] to bridge the gap with western jazz and be more desi. So, Rashtriya-Swiiiing-Sena," the guitarist says, drawing the name out and adding the emphasis.
Is it a joke? We are not quite sure. But Anurag Naidu, who will play the keys at tonight's gig, explains why a lot of new jazz bands are coming up with similarly cheeky names. "Good marketing, that's about it," he summarises. He adds, "I mean, we have a band called Orjazzmic Trio -- me, Gino [Banks] and Rhythm [Shaw]. And it works, man. It really, really works given the amount of people who like that pun. You also have Jazztronaut, Late in the AM and a lot of other new bands [with quirky names]. It helps to get noticed and I am glad to see that jazz musicians have started to take their music and marketing seriously."
Nirvan Pareva
Musically, RSS promises to be an eclectic affair. Apart from Vaz and Naidu, the band features Sabyasachi Deb on bass, Nirvan Pareva on drums and a guest saxophonist, Amar Sukhi. "It's fusion in a way," Naidu says about the genre of jazz RSS offers, adding quickly, "But I don't want to use the word 'fusion' because it's dangerous. The moment people say 'jazz fusion', it implies a flute, sitar and piano. It's not like that. For me, fusion is like looking at ingredients when you cook. You're not going to take pasta and just add some Indian masala to it. But at the same time, you might find a good substitute for zucchini."
Nicholas Vaz
He also says that it's difficult to strike a balance between the traditional standards set in The Great American Songbook -- a jazz Bible of sorts -- and more contemporary expressions of the music. "You don't want to overpower the sound with tradition because you feel like you want to hold on to it because, boss, let's face it -- it is no longer relevant. Honestly, nobody cares. People want to come and listen to fresh music, and that is what you'll get," he says, giving us an indication of the music that RSS will unleash.
On Tonight, 9 pm onwards
At The Little Door, Andheri West. Call 9899928776
