The layman might think of jazz as a serious genre, but Raja believes otherwise: “When people hear jazz, they love it. It is a wonderful form that is accommodating; quite like blotting paper that absorbs several influences. That is why it remains relevant through the ages”
The Rajeev Raja Combine at a previous performance. Pic courtesy/Facebook
A mid-week gig sounds like a welcome distraction for this writer, but it is what flautist Rajeev Raja lives for. The musician will return to a lost time with a retrospective from the 1970s and ’80s at his upcoming gig, Funk That Jazz that explores funk, rock and fusion elements at a Bandra venue this week.
“That is what makes it fun,” he notes, adding, “We are playing a couple of originals. But it is mainly a tribute to that era.” The band’s covers are original interpretations in their own way. Raja explains that the genre compels musicians to express and create with individuality.
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For Mumbai music aficionados, Rajeev Raja Combine is a familiar name since it was founded by the former adman in 2011. The core nucleus includes vocalist Chandana Bala, tabla player Vinayak Netke, guitarist Hitesh Dhutia and bassist John Jaideep Thirumalai among others. “We often bring in the new players to represent different genres and approaches, depending on the mood and occasion,” he says. Alongside Dhutia and Thirumalai, the upcoming performance will see keyboardist Arka Chakraborty and drummer Shravan Shamsi join Raja on stage.
Rajeev Raja
The mid-week retrospective will be a throwback to the sounds of Herbie Hancock, Billy Cobham and Jeff Beck and Jean Luc Ponty among others who influenced modern jazz. “These are artistes that many of the younger generation might not have heard of. But they will identify with their sounds which have elements of rock and funk, and the upbeat nature of the music,” Raja states.
The layman might think of jazz as a serious genre, but Raja believes otherwise: “When people hear jazz, they love it. It is a wonderful form that is accommodating; quite like blotting paper that absorbs several influences. That is why it remains relevant through the ages.”
With another concert in the city coming up in December, the flautist believes that the audience for the genre is steadily growing. He says the nature of the form is a reason. “The improvisation is where individuality comes in. That’s the essence of jazz — it allows you to be you.”
ON November 2; 9 pm onwards
AT Bonobo Bar, off Linking Road, Bandra West.
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